New tree from Brent Pinus thunbergii 'Hayabusa'

Got it yesterday. Today, it went into my raised grow bed.



Planted it deep in hopes of it ground layering itself. Anything I can do to encourage that?

I'm sorry @Bonsai Nut can you move this to pines?
Thank you

I don't know if the variety roots well, but it is generally a bad idea to plant any tree deeply because the roots will not get enough oxygen.

I suggest you plant it no deeper than the pot soil level. Cut a pot, fit it around the trunk, and fill it with your garden soil rather than what you've done.

I would definitely not put it in the ground. I'd return it to the 1-gal can and pot it up to a terra-cotta pot next spring to grow it out. I have had a number of corkers; and the Brocade (which Brent lists as similar to or the same as Hayabusa) was by far my favorite, but also the most sensitive. I lost both of them due to wet roots or a failed graft in a wood box. I couldn't tell which, but I think you're setting yourself up for both by putting this in the ground.

Brian Van Fleet said:

I would definitely not put it in the ground. I'd return it to the 1-gal can and pot it up to a terra-cotta pot next spring to grow it out. I have had a number of corkers; and the Brocade (which Brent lists as similar to or the same as Hayabusa) was by far my favorite, but also the most sensitive. I lost both of them due to wet roots or a failed graft in a wood box. I couldn't tell which, but I think you're setting yourself up for both by putting this in the ground.
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His instructions could have changed but I'm pretty sure that Brent mails these out with instructions to upgrade pot size during dormancy. When i got my 1gal (same size as OP), the roots were practically climbing out of the pot. You have more experience than I do, so I'm curious as to why you recommended a terracotta pot (do you mean a larger one?) if not just for increased water movement/evaporation/drainage. What is wrong with the ground, won't it grow out fastest there due to lack of soil constraints? Seriously asking, am a pine newb, and I want to learn as much as possible.

Ape In The Trees said:

His instructions could have changed but I'm pretty sure that Brent mails these out with instructions to upgrade pot size during dormancy. When i got my 1gal (same size as OP), the roots were practically climbing out of the pot. You have more experience than I do, so I'm curious as to why you recommended a terracotta pot (do you mean a larger one?) if not just for increased water movement/evaporation/drainage. What is wrong with the ground, won't it grow out fastest there due to lack of soil constraints? Seriously asking, am a pine newb, and I want to learn as much as possible.

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My recommendation to pot it up to a terra cotta pot next spring is not inconsistent with Brent's instruction sheet. Any pine I grew in a terra cotta pot seemed to have a healthier root system; maybe it is breathable to some degree.

Most black pines I've put in the ground didn't produce significantly larger growth than an over-potted comparison, and had roots that ran away. A few have died at "collection" for that reason. To me it's not worth the risk. If it stops raining, I can share a comparison of a JBP in the ground for 3 seasons vs. a JRP that was container grown for the last 3 seasons (in terra cotta until it got broken last fall). Their new candle growth is about the same size, and the JRP actually looks healthier. I'll be moving the JBP to a terra cotta pot next spring and getting serious about developing the trunk.

If you put it in a pot try not to disturb the roots. I'm assuming you have not disturbed the roots or fanned them out. Placing it in a pot gives you much more control over the conditions you expose it too like sun, water, and last but lost least, fresh air to the roots and top growth. In a pot you can easily rotate the tree and inspect health of the needles.