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Back Operation - What do I do About my Trees?!
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Author:  Brahma [ 15 Jan 2020, 12:48 ]
Post subject:  Back Operation - What do I do About my Trees?!

Hey folks!

After nearly two years of waiting, I am due to see a surgeon next week to discuss my ongoing back problem; I’m hoping he will say he can operate which will be an absolute godsend as I have been housebound for the last 2 1/2 years, out of work and generally cheesed off! If he does operate and it’s a success, it will (hopefully) reduce my pain by up your 80% and increase my mobility by nearly 100% so I’ve got my fingers crossed!

:Big Thumb: :Big Thumb:

The problem I’ve got is, it means I could be admitted to hospital quite quickly and, as the operation has about 8-12 months recovery time, means I probably won’t be able to work on my trees at the usual time this year. I’ve got a larch forest to repot (which has just started shooting due to this ridiculously mild weather), maples to repot and run thread-grafts on for branches and roots, trident maples to cut back and repot and JBP, JWP, JRP and Scots pines all need repotting. Oh, and the trees in my grow bed all need lifting this year to trim the roots and replant which my wife helps me with as I can’t lift anything.

So, what would you do? Do I just leave everything as it is this year and pick up again next? Or can I start repotting and thread grafting maples and all other general reports now? It’s risky isn’t it in case we get a cold snap? I’ve got a shed that the repots can all go in to keep them away from frosts but this won’t keep them from the minus temperatures if we get tue cold snap?

What do you think?

Cheers all,

Andy

Author:  Keith Hansell [ 15 Jan 2020, 13:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Back Operation - What do I do About my Trees?!

First of all I wish you well with getting the back sorted.

I assume you have no mates who can look after them, either at yours or theirs. Do you have a bonsai centre near you that will keep an eye on the watering. Personally, unless you know of one that will die if not repotted, I would let them grow and bother about repotting styling when you are better.

Author:  keithmart [ 15 Jan 2020, 13:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: Back Operation - What do I do About my Trees?!

Hi

I hope you get your operation ok, it is unlikely that you would not get some time before it which will give you a little while to get organized.

I would leave the trees for this year, at least until you are more mobile. missing repotting for a year is unlikely to cause any problems.

Good luck

Author:  sputnik [ 15 Jan 2020, 15:14 ]
Post subject:  Re: Back Operation - What do I do About my Trees?!

I would say the first thing to do is slow down and stop worrying Andy. Just be pleased that you have finally got some progress with your back problem. I know it is frustrating when you have to put all your plans for the trees on hold but unless there’s anything really urgent it will wait. If your wife is prepared to keep them watered and fed they will be there for you when you are recovered. If you can give them protection it’s fine to repot any trees which shoot early. I have already done some of my early shooting maples this week.

Good to hear you’re finally getting somewhere with this long standing problem :Big Thumb:

Author:  Brahma [ 15 Jan 2020, 16:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Back Operation - What do I do About my Trees?!

sputnik wrote:
I would say the first thing to do is slow down and stop worrying Andy. Just be pleased that you have finally got some progress with your back problem. I know it is frustrating when you have to put all your plans for the trees on hold but unless there’s anything really urgent it will wait. If your wife is prepared to keep them watered and fed they will be there for you when you are recovered. If you can give them protection it’s fine to repot any trees which shoot early. I have already done some of my early shooting maples this week.

Good to hear you’re finally getting somewhere with this long standing problem :Big Thumb:



Yes, you’re right Sputnik - I know I need to get things in perspective a bit!! I was originally told that I couldn’t have an operation so tried to condition myself to live with the pain. And then I was told there’s a surgeon who might operate and I’ve been waiting so long for a “Yes / No. I’ll actually find out next Wednesday whether he’ll do it or not.

Anyway, I just thought “Aarrggghhh!!! What about my trees!! I’m particularly concerned about some of my maples; I’ve got some branches wired down on a couple of trees that I want to thread graft this year (3 on a Deshojo and 4 on a Shishigashira) and I’m concerned they’ll be too thick if I leave them for another year. I want to do some root grafts on the Deshojo too!

And I’ve got a couple of pine trees that aren’t draining very well at all and I really wanted to repot them this spring .......

Interested to hear that you’ve repotted some of your maples; what did you do? What protection are you giving them?

Thanks again for your reply.

Andy

Author:  sputnik [ 15 Jan 2020, 16:37 ]
Post subject:  Re: Back Operation - What do I do About my Trees?!

Firstly I am in West Sussex so the climate is a bit different to yours but I have to repot some of my maples in January or it’s too late. My Kiyohime and my Katsura often start to shoot in January as do my Amur maples. They get left in the shelter of the house after repotting unless we get a really cold snap when they are moved into the garage or the greenhouse depending on how far they have progressed. It’s actually quite a godsend for me to be able to get going or I end up not getting through my repots and I have never lost anything doing this.

Your larches seem quite early. The buds on my larches aren’t moving yet.

Author:  bluesky [ 16 Jan 2020, 19:48 ]
Post subject:  Re: Back Operation - What do I do About my Trees?!

Andy, fingers crossed the surgeon can give you the op you need.
My view is that bonsais rarely die by not doing work on them... as long as they are watered sufficiently, they will survive a year.
If you are very worried about the pines becoming pot-bound, you could slip-pot them to a larger pot now, then do a proper repotting next year??

Author:  Ben M [ 17 Jan 2020, 09:49 ]
Post subject:  Re: Back Operation - What do I do About my Trees?!

If you have any wire on branches that's likely to cut in, consider removing it now, or arranging for someone else to do it later in the year.

Best of luck for your Op and recovery.

Author:  Gary Jones [ 17 Jan 2020, 20:54 ]
Post subject:  Re: Back Operation - What do I do About my Trees?!

All the above especially best wishes for the op.

Author:  Drew [ 21 Jan 2020, 17:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Back Operation - What do I do About my Trees?!

Andy you can do your thread grafts now. Make sure you seal both entry and exit holes. I do them this time of year with no issues.

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