Shimpaku juniper raft - worth my time and effort?

[lennard]

Jarrod, stick with it mate Regards Craig

Yes - the only tree that is not worth any effort is a dead tree- except if you can use it for a tanuki !

Lennard

[Andrew Legg]

Jarrod,

I like it. I think it has character and potential. Those grubs would sure as sugar have set it back beeeeeeg time! I dunk all my trees in water deeper than their pots every couple of months for about 30 minutes. Them grubs come popping out like corks! Added, it gives the tree a good old soak. Stick with it mate, and you will end up with a nice raft. So many trees out there are carbon copies of eachother. Nice to see something a bit different from time to time.

Hey Lisa, you a primary school teacher? Blimey!

[Pup]

Jarrod, with all the input you have had as to what you should, or should not do, no one has picked up on what you call good feeding. Seasol is not a fertiliser power feed is very low in any of the NPK, and Dynamic lifter is not what Shimpaku like in my experience.

They like a good balanced feed, D l is chicken poo, hi in nitrogen which shimpaku do not like.
They like a balanced PH which DL does not give it sends the soil Alkaline, after constant use.
So what I would do was look for a more balanced fertiliser regime, I use a inorganic fertiliser regime, of Yates fruit and flower. On a fortnightly basis.

Just my Pup

[lakepipes]

Hey mate,

i have no doubt that if you stick with the raft, it will be just as good as your other trees.
Take the good from the previous comments and weave your magic.

Hey..... Remember to have fun!!!

Mike

[Guy]

perhaps reduce the height of the left tree(keeping it as the dominant)-and also reducing the height of third from left--also maybe a slightly wider pot to give some space on the left

[Jarrod]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I will keep treating this tree the same way i have been, as all my other Juni's have been doing great!

When I repot this tree next spring i will rearrange the small branches that are at the back and get them sorted out and closer to the main trunks. I will then look at shortening one of the two main trees depending what buds i get happening!

[lennard]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I will keep treating this tree the same way i have been, as all my other Juni's have been doing great!

When I repot this tree next spring

Just want to find out your experience on this:

Here in Rustenburg, RSA, pine-like trees like Junipers sulk in our summer(October - January) heat and growth is almost standing still. Now that autumn is coming these trees burst into new growth.

Wondering if it would not be best to repot the trees now because they will grow right through winter?

Lennard

[Jarrod]

This depends on how much root work you will be doing. If it is just a minor root prune then it should be fine. I find that you can repot junipers almost year round here, but i think where you are it might be a bit stressful during the heat of summer, but that is the only warning. If you are doing a severe root prune i would suggest waiting till the start of spring.

[Pup]

I have always done my re potting of Conifers at late Summer early Autumn, Never had a problem with root pruning.
I Do not recommend pruning in Summer as our temperatures can go from 28 Celsius to 37 one day to the next like this week. Sat was low Sun was high.

Just my Pup

[Andrew Legg]

Hey Lennard,

I know Rustenburg is very different from Cape Town, but I was recently speaking to Rudi Adam, and he suggested late spring only. I think Pup and Jarrod are right though. If you do it before the second growth period, just make sure you provide it with good aftercare. Let us know how it goes. It is all part of the learning process. I have a Juniper Grey Owl and I'm itching to repot it now, but I definately don't want to loose it, so I'm gonna play it safe and wait till September time.

Cheers,

Andrew

[Max]

what ever became of this?