Loblolly Pine - Field

We have property that is on top of a hill with red dirt, more sandy than red. These pines (I think called loblolly )were not planted, they just grow from the surrounding pines blowing in the wind. I have worked with a couple of them over the years, cutting the top off to see if it would back bud. Some have died, some have just started growing from the top again, no lower growth, a few seem to have gotten some lower branches. I have a picture of one that has done well over the past few years. My big concern is that it will die whenever I dig it to bring home. I have tried them in the red dirt they grow in, bonsai soil, Miracle Grow potting soil.... they have all died, most very quick. I did keep one alive in the original red dirt, direct sun, it made it about 3 years. I was just about to try and get it out of the red dirt when it died. The dirt on the hill is very loose and moist, it just falls off when you dig them up, none left on the roots. When in the pot it will pack and get hard. I think I have always watered with our well water, so I am thinking of doing this one with just rain water and asking if anyone has a suggestion of what soil to use / try. I am just testing with this one to see if I can keep it alive, I am ready to bring the bigger one hope, may next year.
Would JBP grow in the red sandy dirt.... it would be work buying 5 or 10 just to see.

You could probably get JBP to grow there, but like the loblolly pines, you're unlikely to ever get one dug and containerized. The soil is just too heavy, and the roots will run too far for you to ever collect enough to sustain the tree.

I would try digging around half and back fill with bonsai soil the the following year do the other half remove on year 3. Never done it but I would try it out

Brian, I really appreciate your input to this, I know you Know pines. So I have been thinking the whole time it was something with the loblolly pine. I thought it was the dirt would not stay on the roots, no root ball so the mycorrhiza that is suppose to stay within the root ball and roots was maybe the problem. I have had someone help while I had the entire tree in one scoop, they held the dirt on the roots and slipped it into the pot. So you are saying the roots that I got (see pictures) is not enough to keep the tree alive lone enough to start growing more roots? That it has more roots but they go a long way in the soil, thus no root ball ? I put this pine back in the pot in some mix of turface and pine back that you had told me about, will water with rain water only just to see how it goes.
Rusty I like the idea you suggested... Brian do you think Rusty's idea may work?
Thanks

Not many roots. Give excellent care, partial shade, root stimulant 1/2 strength, spray foliage with plant stimulant or same strength fert H2O daily, spray daily several times if not raining and trim off top above 2nd major branch whorl. "Maybe" will survive. Best of fortune.

Air layer at the ground level? I also like Rusty's idea. Take it out in stages.

ml_work said:

Brian, I really appreciate your input to this, I know you Know pines. So I have been thinking the whole time it was something with the loblolly pine. I thought it was the dirt would not stay on the roots, no root ball so the mycorrhiza that is suppose to stay within the root ball and roots was maybe the problem. I have had someone help while I had the entire tree in one scoop, they held the dirt on the roots and slipped it into the pot. So you are saying the roots that I got (see pictures) is not enough to keep the tree alive lone enough to start growing more roots? That it has more roots but they go a long way in the soil, thus no root ball ? I put this pine back in the pot in some mix of turface and pine back that you had told me about, will water with rain water only just to see how it goes.
Rusty I like the idea you suggested... Brian do you think Rusty's idea may work?
Thanks

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You didn't get any fine feeder roots; this tree will not likely make it. I've never been able to get one like that to live.

I think Rusty's idea is a low percentage shot, but if you have the land and time, give it a try. Good luck!

Brian Van Fleet said:

You didn't get any fine feeder roots

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Brian, I would not know how to get any more roots, I just dug around it and lifted up with the shovel blade. The ones this size could really be just pulled up. The top of this hill seems to stay moist even in the heat of the summer. There is a hole that has water in it in the middle of summer, after no rain for weeks. No indication of water coming up from the ground, but deer tracks all around it from them drinking. I don't see how the pines make it through the summer in the sand. That is what made me think of a low maintenance project. I may try a couple just to see what happens, I think someone on here had JBP seedlings for sale.
Thanks for your Help!

Potawatomi13 said:

Not many roots. Give excellent care, partial shade, root stimulant 1/2 strength, spray foliage with plant stimulant or same strength fert H2O daily, spray daily several times if not raining and trim off top above 2nd major branch whorl. "Maybe" will survive. Best of fortune.

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Merry Summer in February!

Sorce

I've been debating digging some up, as they are as prevalent as red maples here and would be interesting so see if something could be made of them.

I've heard (in this forum) that loblolly can push 3 flushes of growth. Whoa! But it seems like colecting wil be a problem. I have dug JBP out of those exact soils conditions in NJ and had a lot of die back. They plant JBP in salty sands because they grow well, but it makes collecting hard. Maybe trygrowing them in collanders underground?