Western cottonwood for free

M. Frary · Apr 23, 2016

sorce said:
Another looked-down-upon species

Because when the branches start falling off you'll know why.
To the OP. If you haven't done it already,get some kind of wood preservative on the deadwood or Shari or uro.Whatever. The wood on popel rots fast. Faster on cottonwood.

aml1014 · Apr 28, 2016

M. Frary said:
Because when the branches start falling off you'll know why.
To the OP. If you haven't done it already,get some kind of wood preservative on the deadwood or Shari or uro.Whatever. The wood on popel rots fast. Faster on cottonwood.

I don't think I'll have to worry to much being in the desert where I have to water even when it's raining lol.

UPDATE on cottonwood number 1:
Well two days ago we had some of our normal early spring winds with gusts over 60mph. The top of this tree supporting the new leader in place had snapped, so it's a new direction once again for this tree. I did work for about an hour to remove the excess wood with my knob cutters.

It'll definitely need a carving, and I will preserve this Shari @M. Frary as it is most of the tree now lol.

Aaron

aml1014 · May 4, 2016

Today I decided to work on cottonwood number 1.
As we all know, trees that want to be 100' tall tend to be extremely apically dominant. This tree is no exception, the branches on the ends have extended about 18 inches whIle branches further back along the main branch diminish with strength as you move closer to the trunk.
I defoliated the strong shoots and left the weak ones alone.

Notice the small leaves and close internodes.

I did a full wiring, and cutback all strong shoots.
Here's the result of this trees first styling.

And a close up of the canopy.

I'm pretty happy with how this tree has progressed in just a year!
Let's hear your thoughts.
Aaron

aml1014 · May 6, 2016

14 days layer and cottonwood number two has some beast power house leaves going on, and apparently doesn't even realize it was torn out of the ground.

look at those monsters!

Aaron

aml1014 · May 27, 2016

Think it needs a haircut yet? Lol

That's my new pup at the bottom, my other dogs sleep in, in the mornings but he wanted to come water with me. YAY a new watering friend.

Aaron

aml1014 · May 28, 2016

I think 6 ft tall was good enough, MOWED BACK!

Aaron

Potawatomi13 · May 30, 2016

If not repotted for 2 years suggest doing this next year or this fall as you likely have a bunch of roots to deal with. I must do also with my Cottonwood as has been longer. Repotting is personal worst fault

!

aml1014 · May 30, 2016

Potawatomi13 said:
If not repotted for 2 years suggest doing this next year or this fall as you likely have a bunch of roots to deal with. I must do also with my Cottonwood as has been longer. Repotting is personal worst fault!

I got cottonwood number 2 this spring as ball and burlap so he's growing new toes this year, I had a hard time repoting the other this sorting so I may get some help next year lol

Aaron

aml1014 · Jun 1, 2016

Starting to look like a cottonwood I'd see by the river.

Aaron

aml1014 · Jun 1, 2016

Scratch my post from an hour ago!
I finally decided to break out the age grinder and get some carving done.
This is the largest piece of deadwood I've carved so don't be to brutal on me, nevertheless it looks better then an hour ago.

Detail of the carving

Let me know what you think of my carving.

Aaron

PiñonJ · Jun 1, 2016

I think you're doing great, but I would probably take the concavity right down to the base. I think it would look more natural than leaving that convex spear-shaped core.

aml1014 · Jun 11, 2016

I rooted one of the branches on CW1 when I cut those 2 large branches off this spring, now it's a mame! Lol

Aaron

crust · Jun 11, 2016

Unless your bored, I would throw Cottonwoods in the grinder for a satisfying BBBBrrrp.

aml1014 · Jun 11, 2016

crust said:
Unless your bored, I would throw Cottonwoods in the grinder for a satisfying BBBBrrrp.

Lol I like to keep busy, I should suggest getting poplar in the "anti fiddling techniques" thread. They can keep you busy, when your other trees need to be left alone.

Aaron

sorce · Jun 11, 2016

I dont think you should have mowed that one yet.....

At least not all of it.

Sorce

aml1014 · Jun 19, 2016

It's almost back to where it was before @sorce so it's alright I pruned it. God it'd probably be 15 feet tall by now and I'd be watering like 4 times a day

Aaron

sorce · Jun 19, 2016

aml1014 said:
back to where it was before

So you only wasted half a month on development?

You don't need more branches yet...
You need those branches to get thick enough to cut back to.

The fastest way there is to let that branch's tip grow unchecked.

Now....all those branches have to reach the thickness of your main branch before your main branch gets thicker. Ish.

At least that's what I gather.

I have been losing tips to bugs for a month....
I wish I could let mine go!

Sorce

aml1014 · Jun 19, 2016

Your right that they would have thickened quicker, but the myth of a branch or trunk not thickening At all until the new branch is the same thickness I feel is BS. Why would a branch begin to crack and fissure along itself if it were not thickening? I'm not worried, I cut shit back when it needs water more then twice a day.

Aaron

sorce · Jun 19, 2016

I kind of agree with you...
And I highly appreciate your

aml1014 said:
I cut shit back when it needs water more then twice a day

Reasoning...a lot!

But...

If you are going to prove them wrong about cottonwood...you best be doing it right I reckon!

Why not just cut off some leaves...some secondary branches...and leave the top going?

Do you have too many trees to take your time, and think about a righteous path?

Sorce

aml1014 · Jun 19, 2016

sorce said:
I kind of agree with you...
And I highly appreciate your

Reasoning...a lot!

But...

If you are going to prove them wrong about cottonwood...you best be doing it right I reckon!

Why not just cut off some leaves...some secondary branches...and leave the top going?

Do you have too many trees to take your time, and think about a righteous path?

Sorce

I've honestly thought about airlayering this thing g in half next spring. So to be honest I'm not totally sure what to do with it other then let it grow and cut back when it wilts to often. I'll figure it out hopefully by next spring. Maybe come winter I'll see what I have and Try to figure something out if I don't decide to Layer it.

Aaron

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