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| Advice please http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=7077 |
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| Author: | foxfish [ 06 Jun 2012, 21:37 ] |
| Post subject: | Advice please |
High guys, I have a tree that I almost killed, I think I over cut the roots while re potting in January 2011. Last summer the tree gradually lost 95% of its foliage but somehow clung in there & this spring has seen some rejuvenation! To be honest I am gutted as I bought the tree as a potted sapling from a garden center about 25-27 years ago & it was really coming along as a nice twin trunk. What do you think I should do with the tree know? The tree in 2011  The tree now!  
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| Author: | Gwen Potter [ 06 Jun 2012, 22:04 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advice please |
Is that chicken manure on the surface, foxfish? If it is, it is pointless to feed a sick tree heavily. If you removed a lot of root last year, they just can't cope with it. Personally, I would do a scratch test on the parts that have no foliage just to see if the tree is alive in those areas. We would need to know what it is planted in (potting media) to advise on further care. If it is in a water retentive media, new roots will find it difficult to push their way through and it won't like being waterlogged anyway. Give us as much further information as you can. Welcome to weetrees 
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| Author: | foxfish [ 06 Jun 2012, 22:18 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advice please |
Yes that is chicken manure but I only placed it there today! I can remove it.... The soil is a mix of cat litter (the hard baked clay type) commercial bonsia mix & JI no 3. (I have used this same mix for 30 years) Strangely the present foliage is very yellow but growing quite fast! I live in Guernsey & the weather has been hot & rainy. |
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| Author: | Steve [ 06 Jun 2012, 23:03 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advice please |
Leave it alone this year. As it's a conifer, I wouldn't bother scratching around for green on the bare branches, they're dead. I think the tree still has loads of potential, just not as a twin trunk, although one low branch offers possibilities. Give it the easy life for a while and see where it goes. |
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| Author: | arihato [ 06 Jun 2012, 23:37 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advice please |
It always amazes me that people feed a sick or weak tree, maybe it is counter intuitive but if do not feed a sick tree. I have a Larch from 1967 that was ailing, I did not feed it for two (2) years, it is now recovering and is getting healthy again. About the tree there are a lot of options including grafting but for now don't do anything, feed it LIGHTLY, give it sun and water but let it dry out in between. This will help the micro organisms in the soil. You could get some Mycorrhiza into the soil that will help the tree tremendously. |
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| Author: | Andrew Campbell [ 07 Jun 2012, 02:00 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advice please |
I can only echo arihato, water and feed every now and then. let it recover fully before any more work |
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| Author: | foxfish [ 07 Jun 2012, 07:51 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advice please |
OK thanks for the advice, I will watch what happens! |
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| Author: | NickB [ 07 Jun 2012, 07:56 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advice please |
Bad news about your tree, Foxfish. What variety did you say it was, it looks like Chamaecyparis of some description? You know, all is not lost. The tree still survives, and I have seen loads of full size trees that look like that, especially Cupressus Macrocarpa near the coast. I think you will have to just accept it now for what it is, and style as a windswept. I like all the deadwood and would keep it. I would treat with Lime Sulphur with ink added so as not to make it too bright. |
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| Author: | foxfish [ 07 Jun 2012, 12:53 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Advice please |
Thanks for the more positive replies! Yes I can see a new style tree too, in fact we have some very similar looking 200 years old Cypresses full size trees where I live. I am not sure exactly what variety of tree it is to be honest, I bought the tree from a garden center, I found it in a neglected state overshadowed but larger specimens. I believe the tree is 30-34 years old. I understand what most of you have recommended but I was concerned about letting the current foliage run riot as already it has long, spindly growth! I watched a demonstration where a guy spray painted some dead wood with a solvent free paint & an air brush, has anyone ever seen this before? |
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