Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Interesting potential. Very nice. Do you know for sure the species of Juniper it is?
Monster juniper yardmadori
- Thread starter aml1014
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aml1014
Masterpiece
I honestly don't have a clue as to what it is. I've began some cuttings off of it, im either going to graft shimpaku or the original variety on to it, definitely not decided yet.
Aaron
barrosinc
Masterpiece
did you get any backbudding?
aml1014
Masterpiece
No back budding yet, it's far too dense. I don't anticipate it budding from the lower trunk, it is 77 years old, that's why I plan on grafting to get this thing from 7ft to around 3ft.
Aaron
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
You need to thin out the upper growth, refusal to do so will mean the Juniper will never get new growth down into the tree.
aml1014
Masterpiece
As far as I know, I should leave all the upper foliage for at least a year or two to help with reestablishing some new roots. Am I confused, or since its now growing I should be able to thin just enough to help with back budding?
Aaron
Dav4
Drop Branch Murphy
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Right. No pruning until it's recovered from collection...next year at the absolute earliest.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Can you tell the difference between vigorous growth and weak growth? This is not a smart ass question but something that needs to be asked and answered because I have a problem with a lot of the currently circulating wisdom on Junipers, and this area is one of them.
aml1014
Masterpiece
I do indeed understand the difference between weak and strong growth, I've learned this working at a landscape nursery.
Aaron
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
This is just my opinion and should be taken as such:
It is taught today that the green growth is what influences the development of roots. I agree with this to a point. I also believe that an over-abundance of green growth without the roots to support it contributes to the weakening of the tree. I would, if the tree were mine go through and thin out the growth by removing weak growth only to allow light to enter the interior of the tree. In my opinion this will not harm the Juniper and by reducing weak growth that is probably not doing much for the tree anyway, its removal will allow the roots a lighter load to support. JMHO It is my theory, and has been for many years that sometimes the reduction of the top will stimulate the roots to grow inorder to repair damage to the top.
It is taught today that the green growth is what influences the development of roots. I agree with this to a point. I also believe that an over-abundance of green growth without the roots to support it contributes to the weakening of the tree. I would, if the tree were mine go through and thin out the growth by removing weak growth only to allow light to enter the interior of the tree. In my opinion this will not harm the Juniper and by reducing weak growth that is probably not doing much for the tree anyway, its removal will allow the roots a lighter load to support. JMHO It is my theory, and has been for many years that sometimes the reduction of the top will stimulate the roots to grow inorder to repair damage to the top.
aml1014
Masterpiece
That definitely makes sense, the tree definitely isnt growing vigorously anywhere but there are definite weaker portions. I'll get to work on thinning this thing. I'll update in like one or two weeks when I'm done.
Aaron
wireme
Masterpiece
Nice, moving quickly from winter purple to green in spring is a great sign that you've got functioning roots.
It may be possible that the burnt tips you mention could be a fungal juniper tip blight. Might be a good idea to google signs and symptoms to find out just in case.
aml1014
Masterpiece
aml1014
Masterpiece
Definitely not done thinning, hell, I spent an hour doing it this morning and the tree looks exactly the same
But while thinning I did find something promising, sorry for the bad pics but on the weakest portion of the tree that I thought was for sure a goner is back budding at the crotches of the dying branches.
Aaron
But while thinning I did find something promising, sorry for the bad pics but on the weakest portion of the tree that I thought was for sure a goner is back budding at the crotches of the dying branches.
Aaron
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
This is good news. The thinning process will give that new growth access to light, which in turn will encourage it to grow and develop which in turn will give you places to cut the tree back to. Note: this kind of new growths tends to be very fragile so be cautious not to knock them off or rubb them off. There is an outside possibility that this might be a last desperate effort on the tree's behalf to survive. Many trees sensing demise will do all kinds of thing like bloom or grow where it should not. Sometimes these efforts prove to be fruitful and the tree makes it, especially Junipers.Definitely not done thinning, hell, I spent an hour doing it this morning and the tree looks exactly the same
But while thinning I did find something promising, sorry for the bad pics but on the weakest portion of the tree that I thought was for sure a goner is back budding at the crotches of the dying branches.
AaronView attachment 101356
Heavy_Set
Mame
i have a couple junipers i want to dig out at an old old (for this area, 100±) abandoned house a 2 down the street from mine. im scared as they are kinda weak from years of getting shaded out and with all the other trees/bushes/ivy and othe overgrowth from the last 20 years of being abandoned. Also i am concerned with how well and ahow much roots ill be able to get as i can tell there are alot of other trees roots all over. The house just went up for sale for dirt cheap and i assume it will be sold to be torn down/land cleared and rebuilt on. How much root did you get that you felt comfortable it would survive?
aml1014
Masterpiece
I'd say I had a plastic grocery bags worth of feeder roots, I did sever about 5 wrist sized roots and one that was thigh thickness. I'm actually surprised at how well its doing.
Aaron
Heavy_Set
Mame
Thanks, i think im going to try to dig up one tomorrow despite it not being ideal time for collecting. If i dont get them now the will for surely be killed before fall. There are some old huge azaelas that i want to dig too.......i need to find a digging partner!!!!
I will definately be soloing a few of them out
Heavy_Set
Mame
I feel ya, i spent 4± hours cleaning out my sawara cypress the othe day....when i stepped back to look at it, it looked exactly the same as when i started hahahahaha!!!!Definitely not done thinning, hell, I spent an hour doing it this morning and the tree looks exactly the same
But while thinning I did find something promising, sorry for the bad pics but on the weakest portion of the tree that I thought was for sure a goner is back budding at the crotches of the dying branches.
AaronView attachment 101356
aml1014
Masterpiece
If their lives are in danger I say go for them. I collected this one out of season and it sat out through the winter. Junipers can be super tough.Thanks, i think im going to try to dig up one tomorrow despite it not being ideal time for collecting. If i dont get them now the will for surely be killed before fall. There are some old huge azaelas that i want to dig too.......i need to find a digging partner!!!!
Aaron
