[IBC] trunk chop
Greetings all,
I am trying to develop my first bonsai (pl.) In Spring 2004, and Fall 2004, I have collected a number of relatively small (cca 6cm, 2.3in diameter) plants of native species (maples, elms, hawthorns, hornbeams) to start practicing. They have been growing in the ground since then without much work done on them. The next Spring, I would like to perform trunk chops. On the other hand, I will be moving the plants to another location (also in the ground), and so I would like to check the roots (maybe trim the straight downward ones) and plant the trees over a tile (or, possibly, in a basket?). Do you think it is safe to perform both actions? Or should I just move the plants and wait another season for the chopping? Cheers, Rastislav ------------- Bratislava, Slovakia Central Europe zone 6-7 coordinates: 17 7´ E, 48 9´ N elevation: 126-514 m (413.4-1686 ft) avg temp January: -1.6C (29.12F) avg temp July: 20.1C (68.18F) avg temp overall: 10.3C (50.54F) sunshine: 1976.4 hr/year rainfall: 527.4 mm/year (20.76 in/year) ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Romano++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] trunk chop
Rastislav Kralovic wrote:
Greetings all, I am trying to develop my first bonsai (pl.) In Spring 2004, and Fall 2004, I have collected a number of relatively small (cca 6cm, 2.3in diameter) plants of native species (maples, elms, hawthorns, hornbeams) to start practicing. They have been growing in the ground since then without much work done on them. The next Spring, I would like to perform trunk chops. On the other hand, I will be moving the plants to another location (also in the ground), and so I would like to check the roots (maybe trim the straight downward ones) and plant the trees over a tile (or, possibly, in a basket?). Do you think it is safe to perform both actions? Or should I just move the plants and wait another season for the chopping? Cheers, Rastislav I'd consider transplanting them in early spring, then chopping them in LATE spring or early summer. That should allow a few weeks for them to "take" in their new ground. Depending on the length of your growing season, you may need to give them some winter protection over the next winter. Jim Lewis - - This economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment. - Gaylord Nelson ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Romano++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] trunk chop
Rastislav,
You can do both actions at the same time, but if you want to get the most vigorous response from your trunk chops you should do them before you dig up the trees and move them. Chop this spring, dig and move the following spring. Or, dig and move this spring and chop the following spring. The reason for that is that when you chop back prior to moving them, the trees will have maximum stored energy in the root system to sustain the tree and to push new buds and shoots. When you dig and move the tree without chopping the trunk back, the trees have maximum food producing capability to help regenerate the root system. So, the bottom line is that for the health of the trees it is better not to do both at the same time. Regards, Roger Snipes Spokane, WA. Zone 5-ish ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rastislav Kralovic" I am trying to develop my first bonsai (pl.) In Spring 2004, and Fall 2004, I have collected a number of relatively small (cca 6cm, 2.3in diameter) plants of native species (maples, elms, hawthorns, hornbeams) to start practicing. They have been growing in the ground since then without much work done on them. The next Spring, I would like to perform trunk chops. On the other hand, I will be moving the plants to another location (also in the ground), and so I would like to check the roots (maybe trim the straight downward ones) and plant the trees over a tile (or, possibly, in a basket?). Do you think it is safe to perform both actions? Or should I just move the plants and wait another season for the chopping? ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Romano++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] trunk chop
Thank you all for your advice.
I'll move the plants in early spring, and then I'll see. If they respond well, I may chop (some of) them in late spring, otherwise I'll wait until the next season. Rastislav ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Romano++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] trunk chop
Hi Rastislav,
I have little bonsai experience, but here's what I would do: Since you seem to have several trees to work with, I would experiment a bit. Take all the advice you have been given but apply only one method to each tree :) Regards, Steve I am trying to develop my first bonsai (pl.) In Spring 2004, and Fall 2004, I have collected a number of relatively small (cca 6cm, 2.3in diameter) plants of native species (maples, elms, hawthorns, hornbeams) to start practicing. They have been growing in the ground since then without much work done on them. The next Spring, I would like to perform trunk chops. On the other hand, I will be moving the plants to another location (also in the ground), and so I would like to check the roots (maybe trim the straight downward ones) and plant the trees over a tile (or, possibly, in a basket?). Do you think it is safe to perform both actions? Or should I just move the plants and wait another season for the chopping? ************************************************** ********************* ********* ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Romano++++ ************************************************** ********************* ********* -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Romano++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
[IBC] trunk chop
I used this approach on a few Red Maple voluteers that I've had in the
ground for a few years. This spring I transplanted them to a growing bed. One of them I did severe root pruning, removing all the major meaty roots, this one was the largest of the three. The next smallest I didn't disturb the root ball at all. The third and smallest I root pruned a little but didn't remove any major roots. As others have mentioned the one that has put on the most growth this year is the middle sized one which I did the least amount of root work on, it has tripled in sized, and surpased the largest one. Infact the smallest one in the spring has grown past what was the largest one that I did the sever root pruning to. However the one that I did the most root pruning to has been much much more stable. It has had very little leaf curl from dry periods, and no real signs of distress just nice healthy leaes all summer long. The other two that I did no root work to have strugled with wilting and leaf curl during the hottest parts of the summer. All in all I'd say that for the health of the plant doing root work is worth sacraficing the amount of growth. Hopefully in two years I will have a nice forest or group planting of Red Maples. And If I were transplanting I wouldn't trunk chop in the same year. As Keith Scott said recently in a workshop, Leaves make Roots, Roots don't make leaves. -Ethan -- Ethan Smith, Columbus, Ohio USDA Zone 6, Sunset 35 & 41 but wait around, it may feel more like zone 2 or even 9? ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Romano++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
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