Hornbeam help/opinions

[Wildmittenmycology]

Hey there, this is my first time attempting to work on a Hornbeam, I just couldn't pass up on this one in the bargain bin at the nursury... only $20 with my gardener discount! It had been slammed by a tractor and the leader was cut just below the current foliage you see here, hoping that will backbud so I can still use it as the leader. I was hoping some of you with more experience could share with me some knowledge as far as pruning(when, how hard I can go, etc.). I will likely keep this in the nursury pot for some time, maybe heeled in the ground to thicken the trunk some, but would like to start shaping and styling the tree while it sits, it's begging for me to work on it and driving me crazy! Lol. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[99 Mile Creek]

Nice find!

I can only speak for what I’ve been instructed for with my Korean hornbeam. Cutting back new growth in mid May after leaves mature back to three leaves or four.

And this is for my zone, 6b, central KY. You may want to update your profile to reflect your hardiness zone so others familiar with your area can give you more accurate advice.

I think hard pruning is reserved for Fall — at least before spring. But I’ll let others chime in with a bit more experience.

I wish you luck! Thats a healthy tree. Love hornbeams.

 

[BrightsideB]

I’d let it grow freely to gain energy and size until early next spring before bud break. Then prune what you want and work the roots and plant into a grow box or even ground.

Roots are just as important as the trunk and branching for bonsai. And the nebari looks buried. So that’s still an unknown. Revealing it now may not be too good depending on how much heat you’re about to get. I hear KH can take abuse pretty well. But currently I would be cautious as to setting it back if the goal is getting it bigger.

Definitely a good find! Well worth a 20! Congratulations on that find!

 

[BrightsideB]

Nice avatar as well. There are some mushroom lovers here including myself! Feel inclined to update your profile with your general climate zone and area for better help because that’s a big deal when providing help and input.

 

[Wildmittenmycology]

Thank you all, I will update now! I do believe this is Carpinus caroliniana though, definitely not Korean. The nursury I found it at specializes in native plants and trees... could be European, I will get back to them to find out for certain.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Nice find for sure. Looks similar to my European hornbeam as far as trunk color.

 

[Wildmittenmycology]

I’d let it grow freely to gain energy and size until early next spring before bud break. Then prune what you want and work the roots and plant into a grow box or even ground.

Roots are just as important as the trunk and branching for bonsai. And the nebari looks buried. So that’s still an unknown. Revealing it now may not be too good depending on how much heat you’re about to get. I hear KH can take abuse pretty well. But currently I would be cautious as to setting it back if the goal is getting it bigger.

Definitely a good find! Well worth a 20! Congratulations on that find!

I only pulled pack mulch/soil for a peak at the nebari, it has a nice taper and even flare, but covered back up as the Temps are starting to soar here now. I may peel it back for a quick Pic one of these evenings. It's going to be soooo hard to just let it sit and grow! Haha, but I will be patient

 

[Wildmittenmycology]

Nice find for sure. Looks similar to my European hornbeam as far as trunk color.

It is either American or European, thinking C. caroliniana as the nursury is native focused, I'll get back to them to be sure!

 

[TrevorLarsen]

I agree with all the advice so far, but to explain more why you should wait, it is because based on how the roots look that will determine what the front of the tree will be. I have for sure wasted time planning a tree just to find that the nebari on the part I thought would be the front force it to be the back.

 

[MMJNICE]

Nice tree my man.. me personally I would have Immediately cut the top percentage of the nursery container and removed most of the dirt from the root spread,, with all that growth I would bet its got a nice even root spread..I can look at the tree from here and tell it pretty healthy. You have shoots growing all over the place a Sure sign the tree is healthy. The leaves are nice and deep green and very little leaf scorching meaning it's getting plenty of water and air to the roots. Btw I'm almost 100% sure that's European hornbeam. American hornbeam leaves don't have Ridging that deep and the color is isn't that deep green like you have on your tree. I have 12 European hornbeam, a 13 tree Forest planting of american hornbeam and one Japanese hornbeam. Still looking for a nice Korean hornbeam tho smh.. hornbeam heal pretty fast if you got cut paste the leader break should heal by the end of the growing season. Just making sure that clean that cut up with a razor blade and cover with cut paste. I got a European hornbeam in the ground for the last three years and this
growing season it really put on some sick growth .. it went from one inch to dam near 3" thick so if you really want it bigger the ground is the way to go. It isn't even really taking up much space either. But leaving the lowest branches as a Sacrifice really works well for these guys fyi.. the tree is only 4 and a half feet tall with a 3" thick trunk.