For those with Dawn Redwood experience...

[We're all Mad Here...🎩]

I've found a couple redwoods at the box, and they have relatively large trunks. Downside is they are nor entirely straight (nature isn't perfect), but they've also seen some roughing up I think. Lower leaves are decent, but nearly missing on one side, top looks pretty bare, but doubtful tree is dying. If the top of the tree was jinned, is it likely the bottom would back-bud and regrow that lacking side? Unfortunately I don't have pics, thanks for your time.!

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Sorry, you’ll need to post at least 3-4 images before I or anyone can answer this question. Otherwise anything anyone would say is mere speculation.
E
cheers
DSD sends

 

[Shibui]

Dawn redwood back bud very well so can be trunk chopped hard. I've also root pruned quite hard with no ill effects.
Not entirely straight is likely caused by previous pruning or growing near other plants and reaching for light.
Missing leaves may also be caused by crowded conditions where little light reaches one side close to a fence or other trees but always difficult to be certain just from a description.

 

[We're all Mad Here...🎩]

Sorry, you’ll need to post at least 3-4 images before I or anyone can answer this question. Otherwise anything anyone would say is mere speculation.
E
cheers
DSD sends

Understood. I am in the middle of redoing my porch ceiling today, so hopefully will make it back there soon. Ty!

 

[Dmvbonsai]

I just bought a 10 foot dawn redwood and chopped it to 20 inches lol. It back budded everywhere and bounced back with zero issues. If that helps

 

[shimbrypaku]

Redwood dawn from stick in a pot.
Chopped every other year, four or five years old, grown in Anderson flats,old guy I don’t keep records.

One thing I have found with redwood dawn, the roots will explode if you don’t confine them or constantly prune, just my two cents.


Thanks

 

[andrewiles]

Personally, I'd avoid buying a large trunk DR for use as a single tree. You'll be trying to deal with the chop for awhile, or forced to take the jin approach. Since you want taper and at least some movement in both the branches and the trunk you'll likely only get to use the bottom foot or less of your purchased tree, and only the stubs of the lower branches. DRs grow very quickly and if you start with something small you can work that into nice material in single digit years, probably much better than what you'd get with a chop.

DRs are also very easy to air layer and root from both HW and SW cuttings. So if you do buy a larger tree I'd consider using the top and outer material for additional trees.

And yeah, they can take aggressive rootwork without a sweat. Pretty much need to repot every year. Just give them lots of water and sun during the summer.

 

[shimbrypaku]

Personally, I'd avoid buying a large trunk DR for use as a single tree. You'll be trying to deal with the chop for awhile, or forced to take the jin approach. Since you want taper and at least some movement in both the branches and the trunk you'll likely only get to use the bottom foot or less of your purchased tree, and only the stubs of the lower branches. DRs grow very quickly and if you start with something small you can work that into nice material in single digit years, probably much better than what you'd get with a chop.

DRs are also very easy to air layer and root from both HW and SW cuttings. So if you do buy a larger tree I'd consider using the top and outer material for additional trees.

And yeah, they can take aggressive rootwork without a sweat. Pretty much need to repot every year. Just give them lots of water and sun during the summer.Gr in

Great information, thank you for adding to the thread.

 

[Jthom123]

Personally, I'd avoid buying a large trunk DR for use as a single tree. You'll be trying to deal with the chop for awhile, or forced to take the jin approach. Since you want taper and at least some movement in both the branches and the trunk you'll likely only get to use the bottom foot or less of your purchased tree, and only the stubs of the lower branches. DRs grow very quickly and if you start with something small you can work that into nice material in single digit years, probably much better than what you'd get with a chop.

DRs are also very easy to air layer and root from both HW and SW cuttings. So if you do buy a larger tree I'd consider using the top and outer material for additional trees.

And yeah, they can take aggressive rootwork without a sweat. Pretty much need to repot every year. Just give them lots of water and sun during the summer.

Can you just air layer where you are planning to trunk chop with drw?

 

[caffeinated]

On a more pessimistic note, I bought a "back of the nursery" damaged 8 foot tall dawn redwood with a beautiful fat trunk and the damage was above where I wanted to chop anyway. Even though it was a vigorous grower, it would only ever backbud for years at the collars of the three existing branches below the chop. I sold it after a few years but in those three years, no other backbudding from the trunk. The trunk diameter above the flare was probably about 5 inches ish. I suppose the takeaway from all these responses would be, see what happens!

 

[andrewiles]

@caffeinated maybe once the bark gets too thick the buds can't break through and backbudding stops. Like pinebark maples. I know small DRs backbud all the way down.

@Jthom123 yeah, that's what I would do. A little late now but in late winter or early spring just layer at that point. You should be able to separate in early summer.

 

[caffeinated]

@caffeinated maybe once the bark gets too thick the buds can't break through and backbudding stops. Like pinebark maples. I know small DRs backbud all the way down.

@Jthom123 yeah, that's what I would do. A little late now but in late winter or early spring just layer at that point. You should be able to separate in early summer.

that could be it. Dunno. But yeah, my much smaller redwood backbuds on the trunk non-stop

 

[dbonsaiw]

I don't have a ton of experience with DRs, but they seem to backbud very well. They also grow like wild fire. I picked up this DR towards the end of winter 2022 as a tiny stick and repotted into a 1 gallon and later in the season up-potted into a 10 gallon. It's now about 6 feet tall and the base is maybe 1.5". I'm shooting for 3" and then will chop this bad boy down. In the meantime, it's my summertime Christmas tree.