Bonsai skills: cutting and bending to bend thick branches

To bend thicker trunks or large branches, you can consider this kind of incision bending method when copper wire, aluminum wire, brown wire pulling or hanging bending is not feasible. Generally in the spring, trees begin to sprout, sap has been normal circulation, conducive to sawing healing. Sawing method includes single-cut bending and multi-cut bending.

If this is the branch to bend,

Cut a V-groove with a saw on the inside in the bending direction to a depth of 2/3 of the diameter. If you cut more than two, it's a multiple kerf bend.

At this time, you can bend it with a twist or pull. After bending, it is best to wrap the incision with black tape to avoid water

This incision method can also be used to adjust the overall angle of thick branches

Cut a v-groove at the root of the branch

You can pull the bend down, and in this way, you can guarantee the point and angle of the bend.

Of course, you can also make an incision on the outside of the bend, but after taking the bend, you should make a suitable wooden wedge to plug this place, and then cover it with water moss, so that the wound can heal slowly without leaving a large groove.

The following three pictures are an example. This is a Acer palmatum. This short branch is easy to break, so it is assisted by incisions.

The branch on the right side of the pull wire is bent, and the incision is not visible at this angle. Half a year later, it almost healed.

This angle is clearer.

These three pictures are another example. This is an elm tree.

The first image was taken in the summer of 2005, and the last image was taken in the spring of 2006.