Hi all;

The nurseries around my place are filling their shelves with this years
conifers, and I found a 3 foot Alberta Spruce that has potential.
It's in a two gallon pot, with a 1 1/2 inch trunk, with nice primary
branches about 3 inches up the trunk.
I'm considering chopping it, and making one of these branches the new top.

Any do's and don'ts ??????

Mark Hill - Harrisburg PA - Zone 6


************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Thanks Sam;

I'll keep your points in mind when I chop this critter.
It is my intention to transfer the entire root ball into the ground for the
summer and see if it grows into something useful. I'm a newbie so all this
stuff is a learning curve.

Mark Hill - Harrisburg, PA - Zone 6 (and 70 degrees !!!)


-----Original Message-----
From: sam crowell ]
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 5:11 PM
To:

Hi Mark,

I have an dwarf Alberta Spruce that I have been slowly working on for about
4 years. I have worked so slowly I may have rather let it "ruin" itself.


One problem I found with Alberta Spruce is that the limbs come out from the
trunk in worls. If you leave any limbs but the one you want, you will find
that the worls with get large, and when you trim off limbs, you will have
unsightly bulges where the limb worl had been. I am thinking that this year

I must really trim off a majority of the limbs, and see if time will let
this tree be salvaged.

The other problem with Alberta Spruce is that they tend to be very upright
in growth, even the limbs often will grow upwards, and even after extended
periods of wiring, the limbs will typical revert to an upward bend shortly
after wires are removed. I have used ultra-thin copper wire with cushions
on the branches to prevent the wire from cutting into the limbs in a "pull
the limbs down and anchor them to the pot rim" sort of technique. This
makes for an instantly more attractive tree, as this fine wire is nearly
invisible from even 5 feet away.

Some people may say stay away from Alberta Spruce, I would say, if you keep
these 2 points in mind, go for it.

The trunk chop and using a limb for a new apex should work fine. I have
found that I can't be overly agressive in root trimming or work, I have lost

a couple, though I have not enough experience to say exactly why.

Best of Luck!

Sam Crowell
Klamath Falls, Oregon

The nurseries around my place are filling their shelves with this years
conifers, and I found a 3 foot Alberta Spruce that has potential.
It's in a two gallon pot, with a 1 1/2 inch trunk, with nice primary
branches about 3 inches up the trunk.
I'm considering chopping it, and making one of these branches the new top.

Any do's and don'ts ??????

Mark Hill - Harrisburg PA - Zone 6


************************************************* **************************
*****
++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++
************************************************* **************************
*****
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++


__________________________________________________ _______________
Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*.
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++