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Season tests (ocean spray)

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BigWapiti:
I've been doign some testing to find how best to season shoots to keep checking at a minimum.  Curious if anyone else has found similar results. 

I had a large bunch of ocean spray shoots.   Took three random samples from my bunch and tried three different methods - 1) bark on, 2) bark off and 3) bark off but leaving a 2" section of bark on at the ends.  All were bundled and tied to a separate broom stick.

This was by no means a very scientifically laid out test :).

Bark off
Bad checking - so bad, that I now have only one from my sample left, the rest had to be culled out.

Bark On
Showing some checking at the ends - not sure how bad but will know more once I scrape the bark off

Bark off, leaving 2" of ends still covered with bark
Amazingly, there is less checking than with bark on

I found this to be interesting - though more testing is probably necessary to really be sure its the case.  But it SEEMS that scraping all but the last 2" of bark from the shoot helps reduce checking.  Have any of you found similar with this wood, or any others?

Mike

Pat B:
Mike, I don't have access to ocean spray but on hardwood shoots I collect I cut the shoots extra long, leave the bark on and wrap them in bundles(making sure they are straight in the bundles) and set them aside to cure. If there is checking in the ends the extra length helps by removing the checked ends. Also by leaving them long I can adjust the spine by moving the shoot one way or the other on the spine tester.
  With the sourwood shoots I use mostly, I can remove the bark when green and most won't check but I have enough shoots from years past that getting seasoned shoots isn't a problem for me. The bark is easier to remove from green shoots but I guess I like to do it the hard way.  ???   Pat

BigWapiti:
Yeah, I guess thats what I was working to find Pat.  I like removing the bark when green as it proves much easier.  So I got to wondering if leaving the last couple inches of bark intact on each end would help.  It seems to be the case.  This would be the best of both worlds if it continues to pan out.   I can remove a larger percentage of bark while its green; only having to remove the last couple inches once its finally cured.  And, with most of the bark off it will probably cure out much quicker.

I also have been cutting them long for the same reasons, but the same would apply by leaving the ends un-barked.

My curiousity was that if anyone else has given this a try with similar results -

It kind of makes sense why it checks less, but ...  nature does what nature does. :)

Pat B:
Mike, I believe a lot would depend on the material used(ard the R/H of your area). Some hardwood shoots will check shortly after removing the bark if too green. Viburnum(specifically V. purnifolium) is one wood that will check. In my experience rose will also but I have heard from others that it won't.
   Bark is waterproof. By removing it, the shoots will dry faster...and thats why some shoots check...drying too fast.     Pat

Sparrow:
Done alot of oceanspray.I scape all the bark off and dip 2 inches of each end into paint,when the paints dry I bundle them.Usually no checking.  Frank

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