You may remember my very large Banksia Serrata that snapped in the wind some time ago. Part of it survived and continues to do well, however, growing underneath it was another old banksia which we named “Son of Banksia”. When Banksia lost its top half, poor Son of Banksia lost much of its protection, and yesterday in the strong wind it slid from the top of the 1.2m fence that it had always leant against, and twisted near its base. This twist has separated much of its bark from its core, and most of its trunk is now flat against the ground. There is no green growth below the twisted section. It has fallen into a better location than it had previously been growing, so if possible, I’d like to help it to survive. Can it be done?

The base here is normal, and yes, it did grow hugging the rock like this. It’s the visible twist/break I am concerned about.

Speedy said:

You may remember my very large Banksia Serrata that snapped in the wind some time ago. Part of it survived and continues to do well, however, growing underneath it was another old banksia which we named “Son of Banksia”. When Banksia lost its top half, poor Son of Banksia lost much of its protection, and yesterday in the strong wind it slid from the top of the 1.2m fence that it had always leant against, and twisted near its base. This twist has separated much of its bark from its core, and most of its trunk is now flat against the ground. There is no green growth below the twisted section. It has fallen into a better location than it had previously been growing, so if possible, I’d like to help it to survive. Can it be done?

The base here is normal, and yes, it did grow hugging the rock like this. It’s the visible twist/break I am concerned about.

It looks pretty broken in that bottom picture. I suspect it’s a bit sick. However, having said that, here is my banksia that I ruthlessly pruned:

As you can see, it sort of just put up some new verticals. It’s “interesting”. Here is the spot where I cut out the middle, and it resprouted:

And last week I hacked into it again because the very long tall verticals were going to attack the electricity line to my Little Shed. I think it will resprout around those cuts.

So I think I would cut yours off below that mashed bit and then hope it can resprout. Possibly you will end up with something sort of mallee like. Or something dead… At our bush block the ones pushed over by the dozer when we had a fire managed to regrow despite their roots being hacked. I think they are pretty tough.

How to Repair Broken Branches

Drill, bolts and nuts.

also tree sealant protection products

Tree Wound Sealer Treatment Cream Smear Smearing Brush Care Sealing Grease
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/184701739698

IV Organic 3-in-1 Plant Guard, 1 Pint (Brown) https://www.amazon.com.au/IV-Organic-Plant-Guard-Brown/dp/B08334DHT6 Details about 500 ml TREE SEALANT BITUMEN RUBBER SEALANT FOR PROTECTING TREE WOUNDS & GRAFTS https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/313532702157

Tau.Neutrino said:

How to Repair Broken Branches

Drill, bolts and nuts.

also tree sealant protection products

Tree Wound Sealer Treatment Cream Smear Smearing Brush Care Sealing Grease
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/184701739698

IV Organic 3-in-1 Plant Guard, 1 Pint (Brown) https://www.amazon.com.au/IV-Organic-Plant-Guard-Brown/dp/B08334DHT6

TREE SEALANT BITUMEN RUBBER SEALANT FOR PROTECTING TREE WOUNDS & GRAFTS
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/313532702157

Tau.Neutrino said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

How to Repair Broken Branches

Drill, bolts and nuts.

also tree sealant protection products

Tree Wound Sealer Treatment Cream Smear Smearing Brush Care Sealing Grease
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/184701739698

IV Organic 3-in-1 Plant Guard, 1 Pint (Brown) https://www.amazon.com.au/IV-Organic-Plant-Guard-Brown/dp/B08334DHT6

TREE SEALANT BITUMEN RUBBER SEALANT FOR PROTECTING TREE WOUNDS & GRAFTS
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/313532702157

Pruning might be a better option for it.

buffy said:

At our bush block the ones pushed over by the dozer when we had a fire managed to regrow despite their roots being hacked. I think they are pretty tough.

Did they have any green growth left at all when pushed over?

WB&D

Also Duct Tape, string, lacky bands, sticky tape, clag, warm spit, hose clamps, zip ties and a stapler. *

*I may or may not be a qualified banksiaologist.

Speedy said:

buffy said:

At our bush block the ones pushed over by the dozer when we had a fire managed to regrow despite their roots being hacked. I think they are pretty tough.

Did they have any green growth left at all when pushed over?

Yes. They were uprooted and left on the ground. I just left them there. The original tree sprouted a bit, but on top of that we got a lovely lot of babies from the cones. But they had been smoked well by the fire even though not actually burnt.

Tau.Neutrino said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

How to Repair Broken Branches

Drill, bolts and nuts.

also tree sealant protection products

Tree Wound Sealer Treatment Cream Smear Smearing Brush Care Sealing Grease
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/184701739698

IV Organic 3-in-1 Plant Guard, 1 Pint (Brown) https://www.amazon.com.au/IV-Organic-Plant-Guard-Brown/dp/B08334DHT6

TREE SEALANT BITUMEN RUBBER SEALANT FOR PROTECTING TREE WOUNDS & GRAFTS
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/313532702157

Pruning might be a better option for it.

Thanks for the product info.

I have already cut off many of its branches as I know its ability to support that foliage is now compromised. There were also plenty of old flowers with large developed, but unopened seeds, which I have removed. I just don’t know whether to bother with the careful pruning if it’s impossible for it to survive anyway. It was already quite an old tree when we moved here in 1999 so I want to keep it in its older form, if possible.

Save the seeds in fond hopes of sprouting a few Grandsons of Banksia

Meanwhile my concern is fungal infection setting in beneath the compromised bark which
could ultimately migrate to the heartwood even after propping, bolting, smearing wrapping, etc.

Saving a rack of seedlings would at least yield hope for the future even if all else fails as time passes.

I can’t see which species it is. Some have lignotubers some don’t.
If it is B. iintegrifolia as buffys appears to be then, B. integrifolia
resprout from epicormic buds beneath the bark of their trunks.

roughbarked said:

I can’t see which species it is. Some have lignotubers some don’t.
If it is B. iintegrifolia as buffys appears to be then, B. integrifolia
resprout from epicormic buds beneath the bark of their trunks.

try and keep it clean roughie this is a family forum.

Bogsnorkler said:

roughbarked said:

I can’t see which species it is. Some have lignotubers some don’t.
If it is B. integrifolia as buffys appears to be then, B. integrifolia
resprout from epicormic buds beneath the bark of their trunks.

try and keep it clean roughie this is a family forum.

do I need wet wipes?

Ah. Re-reading, you said B. serrata. The same story goes. It will regrow by sprouting epicormic shoots.

Thank you. I have cut off the old flowers that have seeds contained within them, and will try to have a go at propagating. I have little idea how to do this properly, so will probably post again about this later.

As for the existing trunk, I think I will trim some more foliage, then leave it as-is for now. If the old growth is going to die back anyway, I will see this within a couple of weeks.

Speedy said:

Thank you. I have cut off the old flowers that have seeds contained within them, and will try to have a go at propagating. I have little idea how to do this properly, so will probably post again about this later.

As for the existing trunk, I think I will trim some more foliage, then leave it as-is for now. If the old growth is going to die back anyway, I will see this within a couple of weeks.

Yep. The new shoots are unlikely to start quickly unless you prune the growing tips.

Seed cases require some heat to open the capsules before able to remove the seeds. Seeds are easy, sow heavy side down by laying on top of medium. Sprinkle a little sand on it only to stop it blowing away. Keep moist until it sprouts. Transplant before the radicle gets too radical.

roughbarked said:

Speedy said:

Thank you. I have cut off the old flowers that have seeds contained within them, and will try to have a go at propagating. I have little idea how to do this properly, so will probably post again about this later.

As for the existing trunk, I think I will trim some more foliage, then leave it as-is for now. If the old growth is going to die back anyway, I will see this within a couple of weeks.

Yep. The new shoots are unlikely to start quickly unless you prune the growing tips.

Seed cases require some heat to open the capsules before able to remove the seeds. Seeds are easy, sow heavy side down by laying on top of medium. Sprinkle a little sand on it only to stop it blowing away. Keep moist until it sprouts. Transplant before the radicle gets too radical.

Thanks rb.