Raffia

Bending Heavy Branches Using Raffia

This pine has excellent movement of the lower trunk, however, the portion of other trunk above the first branch is very straight. Bending this portion of the trunk would be very difficult using wire alone, so raffia will be used to protect the trunk from breakage, and later to protect from wire scars.

Foliage is covered with plastic bags, and secured with rubber bands or raffia.

Soil is pressed into the pot...the tree could be tied in if necessary.

First, the raffia is soaked for several hours. Raffia is then laid along the trunk in a lengthwise direction first. It is secured with short lengths of raffia to keep it from moving.

Six or seven strands of raffia are knotted together, then wrapped in a tight spiral around the trunk. Wire is then applied in the normal manner. The trunk is then bent. While cracks and small breaks may occur, the raffia will insure the health of the tree.

With final bending done, the future position of the tree is determined and final wiring can be done. Depending upon the growth pattern of the tree, wire and raffia may be left on for one to three years

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This pine has excellent movement of the lower trunk, however, the portion of other trunk above the first branch is very straight. Bending this portion of the trunk would be very difficult using wire alone, so raffia will be used to protect the trunk from breakage, and later to protect from wire scars.

Foliage is covered with plastic bags, and secured with rubber bands or raffia.		Soil is pressed into the pot...the tree could be tied in if necessary.


First, the raffia is soaked for several hours. Raffia is then laid along the trunk in a lengthwise direction first. It is secured with short lengths of raffia to keep it from moving.		Six or seven strands of raffia are knotted together, then wrapped in a tight spiral around the trunk. Wire is then applied in the normal manner. The trunk is then bent. While cracks and small breaks may occur, the raffia will insure the health of the tree.


	With final bending done, the future position of the tree is determined and final wiring can be done. Depending upon the growth pattern of the tree, wire and raffia may be left on for one to three years