AusBonsai

Hi Matt, I never realised how straight the trunk of that Larch is until seeing it in photos. To the naked eye it always seemed to have a little bit of wobble. Nice to see it again though .

I remember that tree would get the most delightful yellow/copper/orange needles when the weather in April was really cold, the problem was most years that the wind was always knocking the needles off before the whole tree has time to go full autumn colour. At the new place this year, because we have a lot of sun exposure and open spaces where it can get a bit windy, my larches have been more challenging than previous years. I will have to be a lot more hands on with their placement and care next year, if I want to have good looking Larches again. Despite their percieved tenderness to Australian conditions, I maintain that a sunny aspect is important for getting them growing strongly. They are a great and faily easy to look after species if you can get the timing right (which really seems to vary from tree to tree) and take a few seasons to get familiar with them before drastic training. I was even able to grow them fine in suburban Melbourne through the drought years, despite some early (sometimes spectacular) failures.

And yes, that is fast becoming an enviable collection there Matthew

Cheers,
Mojo

As a bit of a diversion from Matthew's trees of envy, here is some colour samples from (untidy) trees in training at my place .
Cheers,
Mojo

A few more
Cheers,
Mojo

Nice mate, REAL nice that zelcova colour is AWESOME

I have a question in relation to this autumn colour. I have just noticed that some of my acer japonicums have varied autumn colour and I am pondering a theory that it may be to do with there water supply.

I have an A. Japonicum in the front that is in the ground and has a good constant supply of water which has a quite vivid green colour and then I have the identical tree in the back in a pot that has probably dried out a few times of late due to a busy work schedule which has a really brilliant show of reads and oranges. I will also say that this last tree has been this colour since Feb this year.

Any thoughts?

Squizz

Squizzy, generally you will get better autumn colour if trees are kept a little on the dry side, what you risk is leaves drying out at the margins which can adversely affect the display or severely shorten the time that leaves hang on the branches. Trees that are stressed, are a little nitrogen depleted and rootbound during mid-late summer can get colour that mimics autumn colouring, it is very difficult to get trees like this through until autumn with leaves in good enough shape to get a great display.

With Acer japonicum in your climate in Sydney, it is going to be a challenge to get the right combination of mild clear days and chilly nights that you need for consistent autumn foliage.

Cheers,
Mojo

Matthew wrote:Nice mate, REAL nice that zelcova colour is AWESOME

...and required no skill whatsoever on my part



It is definitely a tree that would produce nice cuttings or layers, I really should just plant it in the garden for that purpose alone. At one point a few years ago I had Zelkovas in butter yellow through to deep burgundy with a lot of fiery oranges and reds in between, why I didn't set aside stock trees back then, purely for autumn color alone is beyond me

I will be following Craigw60's advice and growing Zelkova in broom style and groups only from now on, unfortunately other styles are not really suited to this beautiful species.

Cheers,
Mojo

Hi Mojo,

Thanks for that it was just a theory that I had in mind I was in no way trying to stress the trees on pupose its just that I have been disracted with work a lot and the plants dont get the attention they diserve. I understand that the A. japonicum will never get the colour they can achieve here in sydney (especially 3km from the coast where I am) though they get enough to keep me happy. I am trying as best as I can to provide more favourable conditions with there location within the garden. The tree at the front is protected from the extreme afternoon sun as it is on the eastern side of the house and is also fairly prtected from the wind.

Cheers

Squizz

WOW!! You guys are both showing awesome colours!! Love it ^_^
We can only dream of such displays up here

Nice autumn leaves Mojo. all my trees are still a vivid green which is I guess due to food and water.
Craigw

I am sooo jealous... we get no autumn colour here.. we just don't get the frosts needed. the trees are actually in bud/flower atm.. not enough for a display, but enough to say.. gee we are not likely to go dormant for long... lol

paddles wrote:I am sooo jealous... we get no autumn colour here.. we just don't get the frosts needed. the trees are actually in bud/flower atm.. not enough for a display, but enough to say.. gee we are not likely to go dormant for long... lol

i kind of hope your right lol

Stick, don't you worry mate, we don't get a very long dormancy period at all up here

Some have finished completly like most the premmas with a shohin one turning now, the liquid ambers are turning nice ,some maple have started and a hint on the elms. Ginko, larch flowering apricot still green.