Hello all;

I have this Calliandra Powder Puff pre-bonsai which is quite old, has a chopped trunk, and presents good growth at the moment.
I am thinking about carving the ugly chop scar.
It is quite big, but it is hidden by the apical growth and is located at the moment on the back of the tree (but I want to change its front for my project).
At the moment there is no good up branch to make a new leader, even if I wire it. So I want to disguise the ugly scar.
So, the question is, how much could or should I carve without killing the tree?
Images attached:

The chop!


A close-up...


Pretty ugly, isn't it?

Thanks for your help!

Are you wanting to make it look like a natural damage site or hide it?

Assuming it is well established in the pot (Dug up more than 2 years ago?) you can remoce a lot of material. I would not carve away a lot of core wood below the branch that you want to use as your leader, but a sloping 45 degree down from the highest branch should not be a problem. Look at the back, you might find the tree is already swelling along the trunk, with a clear distinction at the highest section where the tree has decided: Above this point everything will die off.

TBolt wrote: Are you wanting to make it look like a natural damage site or hide it?

Both, in fact.
I don't mind if the natural looking carving is showing among the foliage though!

Sorry for the double post folks, couldn't erase it...

leatherback wrote: Assuming it is well established in the pot (Dug up more than 2 years ago?)

Yeah I'm sure.

leatherback wrote: Look at the back, you might find the tree is already swelling along the trunk, with a clear distinction at the highest section where the tree has decided: Above this point everything will die off.

Thanks for this tip, absolutely new to me!