Air Layering the trunk of this Dawn Redwood?

[BonsaixDad]

Hi all, i finally have something to post about! Picked up this dawn redwood today its a “North Light” cultivar. Im seeking some experienced insight on air layering these guys. Idk if its a graft spot or what but this tree has a god awful inverse taper at the bottom 2-3 inches of the trunk i would love to air layer right above this taper. So my main question, how successful would a whole trunk air layering be? Should i layer above a few branches? Im in zone 6b btw

 

[Timbo]

My Dawn Redwoods are super easy to air layer, even much thicker than that. I would assume all cultivars of Metasequoia glyptostroboides you could air-layer but I wouldn't know for sure, I only have the normal variety.
I doubt the bottom will grow back though on a low ground layer, if it did it would leave you with whatever root stock they used. I'd air layer it higher so you leave buds, also the movement is better at that 2nd big branch on the left. I'd keep growing the main trunk in the ground for air-layering in the future, can't get enough Dawn Redwoods IMO.

One thing that throws me off though is none of the bark is peeling and dark brown like a dawn redwood often are by then.

 

[BonsaixDad]

Ah yeah i see that trunk movement. I might just take that suggestion, also like that idea of keeping the main trunk going for future air layering!

 

[Betula1]

Why not try air layering a smaller side branch as a trial first to see how readily it roots before risking the whole tree.

 

[BonsaixDad]

This is a very obvious and brilliant idea i cannot believe i didnt think of this! I knew hitting the forums about this dilemma would prove fortuitous

 

[Timbo]

I guess you can play it safe and waste a year.... your choice. It's a little hard to tell the movement because of the angle, but I would air layer it just under that 2nd branch or just right on it.

I root cuttings easy enough, but air-layers haven't failed me on a Dawn Redwood. You also wouldn't be risking the whole tree, If the top doesn't air-layer you can do it again (assuming the top doesn't die) plus the bottom shouldn't die if you leave the first branch. It will more than likely bud out profusely. Not sure how mild your climate is, you could possibly get 2 air-layer tries in a year as they root pretty fast. You can also multi air-layer as long as you leave enough foliage to put out roots. All this said, it assumes you are good at air-layering.

 

[BonsaixDad]

I was definitely considering that it could very well prolong having the trunk in the right spot for a year for no reason, a big reason why i like the safe road is that this will be my very first attempt at an air layer, which makes me nervous. Especially on such a beautiful tree, i would hate to kill it before i even have had it for a year and see $180 go to waste. If it was a normal Redwood i wouldnt think twice and i would jump right in. But i have also seen a post here on this forum of pretty much the same exact circumstance im in with the same North Light Redwood variety with that reverse taper issue and this persons tree went south. Im sure you could find the thread if you googled North Light Redwood air layer.

So naturally with all considered i feel a lot of pause on getting straight to it without knowing of an actual success rate for this cultivar of a redwood and having no air layering experience. BUT im still weighing options, taking all the suggestions and doing research!

 

[Timbo]

You could try your hand at one of the small leaders up top to get your feet wet, I assume you would be getting rid of some of those branches. Your call, just giving advice because I know Dawn Redwoods are pretty easy. I've taken several off my mother tree I have in the ground, including this last fall I air layered half of it because it was getting too tall and I wanted taper. Sometimes cultivars aren't as easy to air layer, but I know other varieties that are.

 

[BonsaixDad]

You could try your hand at one of the small leaders up top to get your feet wet, I assume you would be getting rid of some of those branches. Your call, just giving advice because I know Dawn Redwoods are pretty easy. I've taken several off my mother tree I have in the ground, including this last fall I air layered half of it because it was getting too tall and I wanted taper. Sometimes cultivars aren't as easy to air layer, but I know other varieties that are.

I decided to just hop in and go for it. Like you said worst case i still have the lower portion to work with and its still early in the year and very mild here. Where would you recommend placement be as far as full sun or partial sun, or should i just treat this tree as business as usual?

 

[brentwood]

I decided to just hop in and go for it. Like you said worst case i still have the lower portion to work with and its still early in the year and very mild here. Where would you recommend placement be as far as full sun or partial sun, or should i just treat this tree as business as usual?
View attachment 593760View attachment 593761

Cover that with foil, you want to keep it dark. Good luck!
B

 

[BonsaixDad]

Okay noted! Would that make the girdle site too hot if that foil sits in the sun?

 

[brentwood]

It should

Okay noted! Would that make the girdle site too hot if that foil sits in the sun

Okay noted! Would that make the girdle site too hot if that foil sits in the sun?

it should reflect it, exposed it's probably worse, sauna in there - I might keep it in partial sun, tho. I have heard the roots grow better in the dark, may be urban legend.

B

 

[NashsMan]

Okay noted! Would that make the girdle site too hot if that foil sits in the sun?

The foil is to reflect sunlight to keep the air layer site cooler and dark.

 

[Timbo]

I had my Dawn Redwood in full sun, the leaves will send the energy from the sun, down to just above the cut, callous, and hopefully bud out in 4-6 weeks. Without at least some direct sun it will take longer.

I've never bothered covering it from light., I think that's pseudo-science, not going to hurt though. I always use clear so I can see if roots form without taking off a cover, your canopy will block a good portion also. I use a plastic meat tray over the top on a lot of mine to cover the rain (might be hard to do on that tree), I always worry more about it getting too wet from the rain. Zip ties are your friend!

The only thing I question is, did you scrape the cambium layer off with a knife or alcohol? It looks a little shiny, if you don't scrap of that "coating" It may just heal over and not shoot out any roots. Also make sure the moss is all the way around; the bag is tight to make good contact.

All in in all it looks pretty good for the first time...ring looks good. I think the "rule" is 1 1/2 time the diameter of the trunk/branch, IMO it should work though.

You should put your zone on your account; some advice will change depending on your location.

 

[Epos7]

My parents have a huge dawn redwood in their yard. It's about 4 feet in diameter at the base of the trunk.

I did some air layers on a couple of 3-4" thick branches. Also took some cuttings of various sizes to see what will root.

Good luck with your air layers! They're cool trees. Really messy at full size, I think I'll prefer smaller ones

I assume you'd get some algae growth if you let light into the air layers.

 

[BonsaixDad]

I had my Dawn Redwood in full sun, the leaves will send the energy from the sun, down to just above the cut, callous, and hopefully bud out in 4-6 weeks. Without at least some direct sun it will take longer.

I've never bothered covering it from light., I think that's pseudo-science, not going to hurt though. I always use clear so I can see if roots form without taking off a cover, your canopy will block a good portion also. I use a plastic meat tray over the top on a lot of mine to cover the rain (might be hard to do on that tree), I always worry more about it getting too wet from the rain. Zip ties are your friend!

The only thing I question is, did you scrape the cambium layer off with a knife or alcohol? It looks a little shiny, if you don't scrap of that "coating" It may just heal over and not shoot out any roots. Also make sure the moss is all the way around; the bag is tight to make good contact.

All in in all it looks pretty good for the first time...ring looks good. I think the "rule" is 1 1/2 time the diameter of the trunk/branch, IMO it should work though.

You should put your zone on your account; some advice will change depending on your location.

So what i did was cut the girdle edges then made a vertical cut and peeled off the layers, (they peeled really easy) to what i assumed was the sapwood! Definitely no green in sight when i was looking over it but i didnt scrape any further! Should i get in there now and do a good scrape? I figured since i didnt see any green i was gold if you will

And im in zone 6b, i’ll put it in my profile!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Air layer looks deep enough, I think from the photo. Keep wrapped, check weekly to make sure it is moist. Unwrap beginning August to check for roots, Then check again for roots every 3 months. Once roots form, you can separate and pot up.

Should go fairly quick, less than 18 months. Pine air layers if they happen at all can take up to 4 years. Most pine air layers fail.

As a general technique air layers on broad leaf deciduous often root in less than 3 months. Conifers take longer, with pines being most difficult to air layer.

 

[Epos7]

Here are the Dawn Redwood cuttings I'm attempting to root. I don't have high hopes, but maybe I'll stumble onto some success.

 

[BonsaixDad]

Here are the Dawn Redwood cuttings I'm attempting to root. I don't have high hopes, but maybe I'll stumble onto some success.

View attachment 595050

Those are some good sized cuttings, im curious to know how those turn out! I took a few various size cuttings as well when i cut my girdle in, set a few in some soil, and put one straight into water. For science!

 

[Epos7]

Those are some good sized cuttings, im curious to know how those turn out! I took a few various size cuttings as well when i cut my girdle in, set a few in some soil, and put one straight into water. For science!

Most examples I saw used much smaller green wood cuttings, so my assumption is chunkier ones like these don't work as well. Still, would be awesome if they did, so I had to try. For science!