Fertilizing Shimpaku junipers

[Bonsai Nut]

Nope, I had never heard of them until Brent mentioned them a while back. Very limited natural range. Have you grown them in containers?

I'm growing three right now in large pond baskets, but I am keeping them pruned at 12" or so. They have about 1" caliper at the soil. I am working on developing ramification because if I let them grow they throw 24" shoots. I am hoping if I can get them to branch out more that strength will be spread over a broader area and I will be able to grow some sacrifice branches without having to do a big trunk chop later on. They are the strongest growing things in my garden, with the closest competition being crepe myrtle.

Valley Oaks grow quickly, reaching 20 feet in 5 years, and 40 feet in 10 years, and up to 60 feet in 20 years. Mature specimens may attain an age of up to 600 years. Its thick, ridged bark is characteristic and evokes alligator hide... Because of its eventual size, it may not be appropriate for the average residential garden.

Here's a quick photo. Strangely, it is raining this morning

 

[EPM]

I'm growing three right now in large pond baskets, but I am keeping them pruned at 12" or so. They have about 1" caliper at the soil. I am working on developing ramification because if I let them grow they throw 24" shoots. I am hoping if I can get them to branch out more that strength will be spread over a broader area and I will be able to grow some sacrifice branches without having to do a big trunk chop later on. They are the strongest growing things in my garden, with the closest competition being crepe myrtle.

Valley Oaks grow quickly, reaching 20 feet in 5 years, and 40 feet in 10 years, and up to 60 feet in 20 years. Mature specimens may attain an age of up to 600 years. Its thick, ridged bark is characteristic and evokes alligator hide... Because of its eventual size, it may not be appropriate for the average residential garden.

Here's a quick photo. Strangely, it is raining this morning

View attachment 240277

Hey Bonsai Nut,
For your valley oaks just wondering, what type of soil/substrate and fertilizing regime are you using? When are you pruning you them back to 12"? I have 3 or 4 that I'm growing out that I got from Brent at Evergreen Gardenworks. I've had some issues with fungus and chlorosis that I'm trying to resolve and I'm looking for horticultural data points. Admittedly, I'm in a different time zone but the data point would be helpful nonetheless. Thanks so much.