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Articles
Wiring
Wire is applied
in a position of 45 degrees, in order to be able to hold the
branches in position. Also be sure to make the wire be on
top of a bend, in order to give it effect. Remember to
select a wire that will be able to hold the branches, and
therefore select a wire with a thickness that match the
branch it has to be applied to.
Protect the
bark
Wiring is part of
the way a matter of knowing what your trees are able to
tolerate. Azaleas and Pines have delicate bark, which easily
can be damaged if you don’t protect them by wrapping the
wire with paper before it is applied to the branch.
Or you can wrap
the branches with natural and breathing raffia first. The
latter method is mostly used to make heavy bends, and the
raffia then holds the bark, so it doesn’t break as easily.
Remember to soak the raffia in water before use; else it
will be too difficult to apply.
On young branches
of Pines, I don’t wrap the wire with paper. But on older
more delicate branches I find it essential to avoid damaging
the mature structure of bark, that is very important to keep
intact.
When to wire
Concerning what
time is the best for wiring, it depends of what kind of tree
that has to be wired. You can wire all year, but the time
the wire can stay on the branches depends of the growing
habits of the tree.
Some deciduous
specimens though have very fragile branches when sap flow
starts in spring, and therefore you have to wait until the
sap flow is less.
Pines wired after
November can keep the wire on approximately between six to
ten months.
If a Pine is
wired in early autumn, it is important to look after the
wire after just two or tree months to prevent the branches
getting damaging marks by the wire. This is due to the fact
that root growth is extensive at this time, and thereby the
branches will swell faster than the rest of the year.
Especially in the
case of Pines it will take a very long time, or even be
impossible, to correct branches with wire marks.
Preparation before wiring
It is
important always to reduce the sap flow in the branches
before wiring.
Therefore
the tree must be only slightly moist before work begins.
Depending on the weather i.e. you must plan to dry out the
tree before action is taken, but be very careful that no
harm is done to the tree.
The reduced
sap flow will protect the branches and twigs from breaking
when they are bended.
After the wiring is completed the tree
should be watered thoroughly, in order to fill the cells
with water again.
Deciduous
trees
The branches of
most deciduous trees swells fast when buds sprout in spring.
When you wire deciduous trees, it is safer to wait until
summer or later, unless you are very keen to observe the
trees, and removes the wire in time. A few days of laciness
and failing of observing the trees can damage the branches
in the fast growing period in spring.
Wiring deciduous
trees is easier after the leaves are of. The chance of
breaking fragile tender shoots is less, and it is far easier
to observe and make a fine silhouette without leaves
preventing you to observe the overall branch structure.
Wiring
during winter
It is no problem
to wire during winter, but the wire has to stay on longer
before it will keep the branches in position.
Some species,
like Pines may need to be rewired in order to keep older
branches in position. Remember to do this in the opposite
direction in order to keep the wire from making marks in the
branches.
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