Korean Hornbeam Advice

sbap

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I recently got a 1-gallon Korean Hornbeam from Evergreen Gardenworks and I had a couple of questions should anyone have advice...

I am not looking to create a big tree from it - perhaps 12 - 20 inches tall. Currently it is about 24" tall with a fairly straight trunk with some subtle curve to it.

Would it be advisable to chop it as noted with the red line (just above the first branch) so as to create more movement and a smaller tree? Or is that cut too low as there are no other branches below it...

And as it is planted in the container with the exposed roots - can it be kept like this (it looks kinda neat) or should these "roots" be buried in soil?

Thanks for any advice you might provide!
 

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JudyB

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I would not cut below the low branch for now. You will want to see how vigorous the tree is before working it hard. The roots are problem, at first they seem sorta neat, it then as you move forward they start to look unfortunate as you start to see how good bonsai look. I would see if you can manipulate those roots enough to spread them and put in a wide pot.
 

dbonsaiw

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I would see if you can manipulate those roots enough to spread them and put in a wide pot.
Guess this is as good a place to ask as any - how hard can one prune roots on a hornbeam?
 

JudyB

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Guess this is as good a place to ask as any - how hard can one prune roots on a hornbeam?
There seem to be two basic types of KH. One type is pretty vigorous and grows and develops faster than the other. If you have both, it's easy to determine which is which. The vigorous one can be treated like you would a maple, and do relatively hard root pruning. The other kind you need to be more cautious with, and work either one side then the other, or just not take off as much all the way around. Hope this helps.
 

rockm

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Guess this is as good a place to ask as any - how hard can one prune roots on a hornbeam?
Depends on the hornbeam. Native U.S. hornbeam can be drastically reduced. Korean species not so much.
 

August44

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Don't like the roots on that at all. Did you ask for that particular tree?
 

dbonsaiw

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There seem to be two basic types of KH. One type is pretty vigorous and grows and develops faster than the other.
Interesting and would explain my little hornbeam - it did so little last season.
 

sorce

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I have a larger problem with you seeking a size than the roots.
If the roots inspire you, keep them.
The right side is pretty interesting.

What's the difference between waiting 20 years for roots under soil to get right and 20 years waiting for those to thicken up and look impressive above the soil?
Seeing them during it, that's all.

The problem is lack of Future Vision, not necessarily yours.

What is at the soil line now may need a little organizing, and it certainly needs time .....

But don't let others lack of vision ruin yours.

EGW probably has a couple more of these better for a different project.

Keep Jamming the square peg in the square hole.
And if you really need to fill a round hole....
Go get a round peg!

Sorce
 

sorce

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Also.....
The levels of respect that Brett rightfully gets, should say this was done for a reason.
He doesn't seem like an accidental, sell you garbage type of person.

I would write him and see what the intention was. Perhaps get a view of older things started like this.

I got a $20 on you find out something interesting.

Sorce
 

Tieball

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If my tree: I would get all of those roots covered with a substrate and bark chip mix. I’d go heavier on the bark chips really. I’d cover up to just over where the roots near the trunk start now….and covered up the trunk about 1/2”. I'd keep it covered without chopping right now. And water it well enough so the wood chips stay moist. You may find the roots will begin to build fine rooting up higher from the current thick roots. I’ve even nicked thick roots with a knife, before buried in the mix, to induce root formation. I’d then begin a process of cutting off lower roots over a few seasons to flatten the root base. This is what I’d do and what I’ve done on my own trees. It’s just what I preferred for a tree style. Every time I prune branches buds develop all over.

You might like the exposed roots though. I’d probably still cover the roots though to begin developing more tangled roots to expose and uncover the roots over time for that look. I think your tree needs more of a tangled mess to be effective rather than just a few thick radial roots exposed. Just what I think. I’m confident you’ll find a good direction that works for you.

My Korean Hornbeams have a trunk texture similar to yours. I attached one of the two. I would say mine are vigorous growers. I don’t drastically prune the roots but often cut about half away to fit the wood box every third year. It took me a few years to develop a flat root base. It happened over time. The root base right now is about 2” in depth.
F3C2FF03-ACF7-4C17-95F5-4EBFC07D0736.jpeg
 

sbap

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Excellent suggestion @sorce to ask Brent at Evergreen and see what his advice is... I did so and this was his reply:

You have a nice radial root network except for the root on right that curls backward. I would work on removing that root after about a year after the tree has stabilized. I would slightly cover the the roots and put a layer of moss on top, but don't let the moss grow on the trunk. Moss is great for surface root development. You need secondary roots at the points where the big roots start to turn down. You should be able to get them after a couple of years of not disturbing the surface. After you get good secondary surface root, cut off the portions of the large roots that go straight down.

So I will opt to do that - put the tree into a bigger grow pot and cover the top of the roots for a couple of years and then see what I end up with. Thanks for all the suggestions!
 

Tieball

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The tree's root look like a root-over-rock that just didn’t happen well, or someone changed their mind and the rock is gone now.
 

August44

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The tree's root look like a root-over-rock that just didn’t happen well, or someone changed their mind and the rock is gone now.
To me it looks like the tree was grown in a very shallow, small, plastic pot for way to long a time. Roots got rammed and crammed. I would see if the roots can be spread out a bit and anchored on a wood pad...a little now, and little more later on. They will be in a lot better shape in no time if you work at it.
 

Underdog

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I think you should find a proper rock to cram in there this spring and grow it out. Life gives you lemons...
 
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