Busy weekend - 4 new trees

[Jaberwky17]

I previously posted about possibly collecting some big honeysuckles as part of a contractor's landscaping project - take 'em or they get chopped. So I took 'em. There was also a spreading yew that looked promising, and finally while at the lake yesterday I found an oak (white, I believe) that was being crowded out by other growth. First up – the honeysuckles.

I planned on three of them, but my favorite turned out to not be within the bounds of the removal project so I guess that’s that. The contractor wasn’t too keen on me being there but we figured a work plan that kept us out of his way. It took about an hour and a half for me and two assistants to dig up the 2 honeys and the yew in 9am, 85 degree, 90% humidity temps. Fun stuff. I had a big livestock trough in a trailer rather than trying to bag the roots.

Got them home and found that my freshly made grow boxes could not have been a better fit. VERY little root trimming necessary to fit them, and I had to wire pretty heavily. As you can see, I am dealing with a root spread of 2 feet by 3 feet and trunk height of about 3 feet – a rather big tree. No problems getting it into the box, it’s on the north side of the house so it gets a few hours of early morning sun before being in shade. In a couple of weeks that morning sun will be even less. I did run into one problem – I didn’t count on the sheer volume of soil needed to fill the boxes and ran way short; in fact I bought out the only local retailer of 50 lb bags of poultry grit. I had to improvise, and put the second honey in the livestock trough with roots packed in a thick layer of mulch, which I’m keeping moist. The tub is propped and the drain plug pulled so it drains. Fingers crossed.

 

[Jaberwky17]

Yew

The yew was by far the bigger challenge to get out, with a large amount of foliage needing to come off just to get at the base to dig. It’s a rather leggy little feller but we got a really good root ball – lots of fine roots and able to keep a lot of soil. I had to work the rootball a LOT to remove all the landscaping rocks that had grown into the base near the trunk over the years. This ended up exposing about 3 vertical inches of trunk that was previously under the “soil” line. As with the yews, this guy fit his grow box perfectly. A few snips to expose interior foliage and thin things out a little and he was looking very healthy. I’m really excited about the intense back budding and lots of new little buds showing their green ALL over the place. Even though there is a busy trunk and branching to this, I can see some lines with a lot of movement for future work.

 

[Jaberwky17]

Boxes and Oak

Finally, the oak. The taproot was pretty big and my fingers are crossed. It looks like a pretty good sapling that was cut down at its base years ago, then has grown out some long leaders since then. So the trunk is very solid 4” with lots of good bark character. I just hope it can survive, as white oak are notorious for transplant issues due to the taproot. However I have to think that carefully controlled soil, water, and feeding of a bonsai regimen should give it as good a chance as any. It was being pushed out by its neighbors in its original home anyway.

And last a shot of the grow boxes I made. All treated lumber, 2 foot by 3 foot by 5.5” deep. Cross slats of treated 1x2, ¼” wire cloth. I think they turned out pretty nice.

 

[Poink88]

Good stuff!

I am "Mr root to trunk ratio" and believe in reducing the trunk as much as possible. These IMHO can use some reduction.

Good luck!

 

[Jaberwky17]

Good stuff!

I am "Mr root to trunk ratio" and believe in reducing the trunk as much as possible. These IMHO can use some reduction.

Good luck!

I'm all for that. Wasn't sure if I should leave them alone after the shock of collection and then chop more in spring. Can I add more insult to injury at this point?

 

[Poink88]

For me, I believe doing more within a few days is okay. No new roots to disturb yet. That is my take but others may think otherwise.

Oh and...cut paste, please use cut paste. I believe it helps reduce moisture loss which at this point is very critical. Every drop saved matters.

 

[Dav4]

A this point, I would not chop the yew further. Unless you have a frost free location with abundant natural light to over winter this tree, further abuse may kill it. Chopping now may also induce new growth at precisely the wrong time of year...isn't your first frost typically in the next 5-6 weeks? I'd leave this one alone until at least the spring of 2015...if it grows well next year, maybe chop the following spring.

 

[JudyB]

Nice oak, will be interested to see what happens with that one.
and good job on the boxes!

Listen to Dave please. Remember Dario, that advice that will work for you, sometimes is not what will work in colder climates...

 

[Poink88]

Listen to Dave please. Remember Dario, that advice that will work for you, sometimes is not what will work in colder climates...

True. Please follow Dave's advise.

 

[Joedes3]

What is the best time of the year to collect a yes? Can I reduce the top now and collect next spring? ((if spring is the best time to dig!)
Joe

 

[Dav4]

What is the best time of the year to collect a yes? Can I reduce the top now and collect next spring? ((if spring is the best time to dig!)
Joe

Joe, it's the wrong time of year to collect OR prune yew up your way...wait until next April.

 

[Jaberwky17]

Joe, it's the wrong time of year to collect OR prune yew up your way...wait until next April.

It's the wrong time to collect or prune where I am, too, but I had no choice in the timing. The trees would have been turned into mulch if I didn't take them. I would rather have waited for spring.

 

[Joedes3]

Thanks! I have two yews that will be collected next spring. One has a ten to twelve inch trunk at the base.

When should I start trimming the top?
Joe

 

[Dav4]

Thanks! I have two yews that will be collected next spring. One has a ten to twelve inch trunk at the base.

When should I start trimming the top?
Joe

I'd prune away what obviously won't be needed when you collect it, then leave it alone for a couple of years.

 

[A Random User]

A side note... I think your boxes are really nice and well done,
But be careful of using treated lumber to make them.
The chemicals that the lumber has been treated with can be
bad for your plant...

If possible, use cedar to make them.
Also, there is a tar like substance that one could purchase at
the big box stores, that is used for sealing large cuts on trees,
that can be used to coat the inside of the un-treated lumber.

 

[fourteener]

I think the honeysuckles could be cut back by a third or so. Nice trunks and nice flair of roots. It is obvious how well Yew backbud. Next year I would just let all of these grow out as much as they want. New shoots=new roots.

It never ceases to amaze me how much soil you need to fill a large box. Glad they had some chicken grit for you. Since they were ripping out this stuff anyway, you have nothing to lose and a great chance to experiement. If I had a guess, I would say the honeysuckles will be fine. The Yew has a 50/50 chance depending on how healthy it already was. Fall os a great time for plants to throw out new roots. Keep them watered well all the way into winter!! so... until next week!

 

[Jaberwky17]

Now?

I think the honeysuckles could be cut back by a third or so. Nice trunks and nice flair of roots. It is obvious how well Yew backbud. Next year I would just let all of these grow out as much as they want. New shoots=new roots.

Do you think I can get away with reducing the honeysuckle trunks now, or wait for spring? These bad boys have been harshed an awful lot already.

 

[fourteener]

If they were already pushing new buds it would be bad, but cutting off more won't really matter. The cut paste is a needed idea. You could use Vaseline if your in a pinch and don't have enough of the normal stuff.

 

[Jaberwky17]

Cut

If they were already pushing new buds it would be bad, but cutting off more won't really matter. The cut paste is a needed idea. You could use Vaseline if your in a pinch and don't have enough of the normal stuff.

I cut one of the honeysuckles down more as suggested. I cut paste everything the day I collected them - I had just taken photos before pasting. I'm crossing fingers and hoping for some buds on them yet this summer/fall. I counted rings on the cuts and came up with 18 years. Almost twice what I had guessed.