A Few Air Layers

[alpineart]

These were taken off a garden tree yesterday .Some good trainers to play with over winter and next season .

100_7608.jpg

The 3 smaller layers on the right have no roots however 3 from last season are still alive so there is hope . This lot were taken from the $14.95 tree purchased off Ebay 2 years ago ,

100_7620.jpg

with 60-90mm bases an excellent results from this tree , in need of a selective trim , tomorrow will do . Now i have a trunk to die for

100_7614.jpg

, its 200mm at the base 3 leaders to choose from , good movement and taper and with numerous area's of sunburn on 1 side a good scope for carving .Projects for the future for sure .Cheers Alpineart

[kcpoole]

Nice alpine. going to be some real nice stock trees:-)

Ken

[MattA]

Now thats what I call a bargain buy... 10 trees for 15 bucks... you know how to pick em...

I really look forward to seeing what you make of the stump.. If it were mine I would lop most of the upper part off & focus on that sunburn, Think of the carving possibilities, no Stihl on this one ok

What method, timing.. did you use for the layers & any theories on the couple without roots?

I recently planted my big maple in the ground with a view to layering off the unwanted branches next season, then let it go a couple of years growing branches to match the framework and try to find a solution to the terrible nebari while its there. Will post some pics soon as its bare.

Matt

OOppss just saw the bit about multiple sunburns..now I am intrigued by what you might do...

[alpineart]

Hi kc , there certainly is some nice stock for the future , looking forward to re-potting last years layers to see what roots were produced over this seasons growing period .Cheers Alpine

[alpineart]

Hi MattA , slight correction .The purchased tree only produced 7 layers over 2 seasons .This tree was layered with spagnum moss 2 years ago using coke bottles cut down and duct tape to seal the bottles . The tape actually touched the bark to aid the seal and a white fungus accumulated around each layer . They were severed early in an attempt to save what i could and of course no roots on all but 1 layer . Nine layers were set only 3 survived , the 1 with the roots died also , i believe the gum on the $2 shop duct tape may very well have contributed to the fungul growth .

This seasons layers were set with 50 % spagnum moss and 50% scoria and open 200mm pots

100_7618.jpg

were used on the Ebay tree

100_7615.jpg

and 120mm pots on the garden tree

100_7606.jpg

. The layers were set after the first leaves were hardened off {early Spring} both this tree and the garden specimen used were set the same apart from the top smaller layers which were set with 80% scoria and 20% spagnum moss , another personal "test/trial .For some unknown reason the slaters and millipedes made homes in the top layers but not in the 50/50 mixes on either tree's .They may have eaten the new roots ? .

I have , since removal inspected the garden tree and noted the bores have basically ring-barked the upper section ,although the bark is still green the 3 smaller layers look rather dead in the pics . These smaller layers also had the majority of seed attached .it could be a combination of all 3 slaters , borers and too much fruit ? This garden tree was the last of the tree's planted by me when i purchased the house . All the other were used as bonsai chop tops as the borers moved from tree to tree ,i have previously posted them here as 4 Red Heads .Again for some reason only Japanese maples are attacked by this borer and i'm still unable to eradicate it .Shibui has checked them out and concluded that while the treatment worked on the grub they possibly had eggs deep inside the tree that were not effected by the spray/ treatment .

Now as for the trunks well the Ebay trunk is sun-burnt and the garden tree is full of borers and at 200mm plus both trunks its a big ask to use a bloody dremel on , out with the Stihl and cut loose i say . then trim it gently with the angle grinder with blade attached , then i might just be inclined to use the dremel to add some finer detail .

When naked and full of features "borers and burn" i will post both the trunks up for a critique or two , might just attach a layered trunk to the chosen design .Cheers Alpine

Oooops i'm off to the shed to sharpen the saw . Just for the record the "mamed style" finger is 46 years old and doesn't require any trimming