Cedrus ground growing advice

[MattA]

Hi all,
I am after some advice on a Cedrus atlantica i am currently growing on in the ground. It has been in for 2yrs & i envisage it to take atleast another 2 before i even think about it going back into a pot. I was planning to dig, do root work & put it back in next spring but having looked at lots of diff posts & growing guides i am now in 2 minds.

So my question is, should i dig & replant now (ie autumn) or wait till spring before going at it? And will i have to reduce the canopy at the same time or will it be fine to leave it intact?

Matt

[craigw60]

Hi Mat,
atlas cedars go well in the ground I have never done this but a friend of mine did with great success. I would have thought it pretty safe to lift them now where you live. You could even just put the spade around them without lifting them just to cut any roots that are running a bit far.
Craig

[alpineart]

Hi Matt ,i have spent a lot of my time on Atlas Cedars {Cedrus Atlantica} over the past dozen or so years .Yes i have placed them back into the ground for up to 4 years , my experience tells me late winter is the best time to dig Cedars and root prune . Although i have just slip potted 4 dozen seedlings into bigger pots from tubes . I know they don't particularly like root disturbance at other times of the year i only gamble with the little fellas .

Atlas Cedars don't back bud on old wood so if you root prune and forget to trim the canopy they tend to shed needles buy this time the damage is done .The tree will survive but the growth is not in the area which has suffered from the needle drop . My climate is extreme from -5 in Winter to 48 degree in Summer .Cheers

[MattA]

Hey Alpine, thanks for sharing your experience with these. I am interested to know how your little ones take the repot. I have 2 at present, a Cedrus atlantica in the ground & a 'Lime Glow' waiting to go in. With pruning when root working, would removing all the older needles be sufficient or should i look to remove some of the overall growth as well?

I know its the usual knowledge that cedars dont bud back on old wood but i have experienced the opposite on both these trees. The one in ground was almost dead when i received it. Cut back to the few live buds & planted out. It has produced alot of backbuds on the branches, or maybe they were just dormant buds i couldnt make out. The other has done the same, putting out new buds along the branches.

Neither tree has produced any budding on the trunk, maybe thats why we think they wont backbud when chopped. The trunk wont bud but branches will.?.

Matt

[craigw60]

Hi Mat,
young cedars will bud back a little. I give mine an over all prune and pull the needles hanging under the branches at potting time. I repot in a different season to Alpine. I like to do them during the very warm weather at the end of January or early Feb. I have never experienced needle drop potting them at this time of year they just seem to sulk for a couple of weeks then start growing again.
Craig

[MattA]

Hey Craig,

Whats your aftercare regime when repotting? Given that this tree will go back into the garden & receive minimal extra attention. My main reason for digging is, now it has regained vigour i want to sort out the roots. I didnt do any work when i planted it due to its poor condition. Generally I try to work at the best time for each species so i can do as much work as possible within its limits.

It makes sense that you have success at the time you do, I have noticed a distinct dormancy in my tree in the hottest months even tho it is in the ground. Have you got any pics of your trees that we can see?

Matt

[alpineart]

Hey Alpine, thanks for sharing your experience with these. I am interested to know how your little ones take the repot. I have 2 at present, a Cedrus atlantica in the ground & a 'Lime Glow' waiting to go in. With pruning when root working, would removing all the older needles be sufficient or should i look to remove some of the overall growth as well?

I know its the usual knowledge that cedars dont bud back on old wood but i have experienced the opposite on both these trees. The one in ground was almost dead when i received it. Cut back to the few live buds & planted out. It has produced alot of backbuds on the branches, or maybe they were just dormant buds i couldnt make out. The other has done the same, putting out new buds along the branches.

Neither tree has produced any budding on the trunk, maybe thats why we think they wont backbud when chopped. The trunk wont bud but branches will.?.

Matt

Hi Matt , on Atlas cedars when needles drop the bud can survive and reshoot if the after care is there ,i have yet to see a new bud form on older wood be it a branch or trunk . i usually cut back to a desired bud and remove the foliage from the underside if any .Rarely do i allow any foliage to sprout underneath . This year is a bit different they look a bit shabby like their owner {ligitimate medical excuse}Cheers

[alpineart]

Hi Mat,
young cedars will bud back a little. I give mine an over all prune and pull the needles hanging under the branches at potting time. I repot in a different season to Alpine. I like to do them during the very warm weather at the end of January or early Feb. I have never experienced needle drop potting them at this time of year they just seem to sulk for a couple of weeks then start growing again.
Craig

Hi Craig olinda is a lot different to Myrtleford weather wise ,Jan - Feb up here is 42-48 degrees , Craig your blessed down there in olinda probably experience temps 10-15 degrees lower ,i dont have any shade cover and radiant heat from the driveway and street can hit 50 degrees +. Whilst i do have a green house and shade sails it only impacts on the trees imediately under cover . ,With your experience would now be a good time to trim 3-4-5 year old seedings as the temps are around 27-28 . The plants are growing under shade cloth but they manage full sun part shade all morning .Cheers

[craigw60]

Hi Matt,
Alpine is right if the trees do drop needles they will reshoot from the buds but its much better if you can avoid that. After I have potted my trees they go into full shade until they start growing again. They get some half strength seasol once a week and some blood and bone once the growth begins to show. I learnt to grow these trees from and old guy in the BSV. called Jack Tripovitch. He used to grow heaps of them in poly boxes and virtually mulched them with D/L. during the growing season. He was able to develop nice trees very quickly. He also told me to repot on the hottest day of the year and it has worked very well for me.
I used to give them the same treatment when I lived in the western suburbs of Melbourne. With regards to pruning but not potting I would do the pruning in early summer once the new growth has hardened off. I like to give them a bit of a run during the early growing season as these are very slow growing trees. It has to be said my cedars have been very happy with their move to the hills and in a very hot climate would be best with some light afternoon shade. If you are growing your seedlings on why prune them at all but if you want to they usually put on a flush of growth in autumn so should be very safe.
Craig