I went yesterday to visit the old crab I had grafted over for a neighbor -
and came up with a question.
Two years ago I cut off the 5" tree at 4' high, and bark grafted a number
of scions; they are doing well and flexible enough to still do the braiding
thing I learned from Bob Purvis. However, the old heartwood is now gray,
and cracking. It was cut horizontally, just like in all the pics I have
seen. Surely this is an eventual rot problem.....the rain going in the
cracks, then a little rot that absosrbs more rain,... etc.
I could coat with roofing tar, but it cracks, and I would think this might
eventually promote even worse rot, and would have to be able to expand with
the growing sapwood a few years as well. There must be an industry standard
I haven't heard of. Thanks, Del
(Thanks for all the thermometer imput too.)
Del Stubbs www.pinewoodforge.com ag zone2/3
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[NAFEX] bark graft end coat?,
del stubbs, 05/20/2002