Field Growing Advice

[craigw60]

Hi the present opening comment is a nice one but I reckon its better the xmas. I like to scar my trees underneath to prevent vertical roots, I think this process also helps the nebari to flare. I usually do this with trunk splitters.
Craig

[Bretts]

Finished planting the grow area out yesterday with about 45 trees. I missed a couple of cherry and a Parrotia that where on my main bench so I guess another year of root work won't hurt them.
Does anyone have any tricks for getting good roots on Elms they are usually ugly fleshy fragile things and I have come to expect little joy when opening elm presents

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Sorry no pics of the trees before they went in. I almost got the camera for Dons Parrotia but I was worn out from untangling the dense root pad . Early in development he purposely let the roots wrap around the trunk and fuse at the base. You might spot it some where close to the centre of the picture with wide base and the dead stump on top left over from where I removed the air layer last season. It is going to be interesting to see the trunk develop on this one.
The weed mat is looking a little tatty after the dog and I have had a go at it but once the sun comes out agian I will tart it up agian.

[Bretts]

Found some room at the end this afternoon to squeeze a few extra in so got a couple of pics.

A small crab apple "profusion" Very nice red tones in the new Amur maple like foliage and great Autumn colour. Once it is established I think I will take it down to the lowest branch on the base.

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Been wondering what to do with this Cherry for a couple of years now? It has some interesting character but so many issues?

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I plan to air layer the top off and then grow the base out. The base has an ok swell for taper but god the roots go everywhere. I would usually ground layer it but skewers seem like a good option. I haven't had a drill small enough for tooth picks so have been using skewers.

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[Bretts]

Oh that poor crab apple "profusion". After about the 5th time I found it's roots baking in the sun after the dog had nocked it out of the ground it finally went safely back into a pot and I notice this morning it's tiny burnt leaves have turned into nice new growth. Close call
There is also a protia that was planted next to it suffering the same fate. It too is safely back in a pot but has not yet recoverd. Bloody dog

[kcpoole]

Dogs can be as bad as Kids, but usually easier to train

Ken

[Bretts]

Sorry I did the wrong thread again