Cork bark oak - the trunk to sacrifice

Hbhaska

Chumono
Messages
505
Reaction score
752
Location
Oceanside California
USDA Zone
10a
This cork bark oak was repotted more than a year ago but hasn’t been super healthy. This year with some strong fertilizer, the tree seems to be doing ok. I like the curvature of the main thick trunk, so I could sacrifice the smaller trunk (red line). But if I sacrifice the bigger trunk (blue line), I will get better taper? What do you think. I have to do one or the other soon before it causes a bulge and reverse taper.

17952A70-CD06-42A9-B9BA-832050B58992.jpeg86FE39A1-E4BC-4180-8E84-B6AA4254891E.jpeg375467D7-110B-45A9-BFDB-0EBD6BEFDCEE.jpegE78C5380-B081-4E82-BE8D-971843538A54.jpeg
 

Housguy

Chumono
Messages
744
Reaction score
2,268
Location
Chino Hills, CA
USDA Zone
10a
My suggestion would be to make the cut at the red line and a cut just above the upper corking part of the tree where it hasn't started corking yet. I would only do this if you feel the tree is strong enough to take it, because these trees do back bud well and you can start to develop your new tree, good luck! By the way, I do this a lot with my cork oaks and have good success with strong back budding.
 

Hbhaska

Chumono
Messages
505
Reaction score
752
Location
Oceanside California
USDA Zone
10a
My suggestion would be to make the cut at the red line and a cut just above the upper corking part of the tree where it hasn't started corking yet. I would only do this if you feel the tree is strong enough to take it, because these trees do back bud well and you can start to develop your new tree, good luck! By the way, I do this a lot with my cork oaks and have good success with strong back budding.
I like this idea!
 

Potawatomi13

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
6,168
Reaction score
4,403
Location
Eugene, OR
USDA Zone
8
Agreed as to removing red line "trunk" branch. However would also cut blue main trunk just above next bend above blue mark. Tree is all boring straight lines. Needs more trunk movement/interest to develop interesting uniqueness.
 

Night_Watch

Seedling
Messages
18
Reaction score
20
Location
Ukraine
USDA Zone
6a
Do they root if they are stuck in soil?
I root cuttings of Q. Ilex and another unknown evergreen oak, since they do not grow in nature here and it is difficult to buy such material.
it's easier than I thought. You cut it, stick it into the ground, wait ...
====
On the picture:
1. Two-year-old cutting of Q.Ilex.
Everything that is taller than an inch has already grown on its roots. 1 out of 10 caught on.
2. Autumn cuttings of Q. Ilex, 3 out of 3 have taken root (red arrows). Nearby are cuttings of an unknown oak.
3. Spring cuttings Q.Ilex. The result is still unclear.
4. Mother trees. They are 3 years old.
 

Attachments

  • Q_Ilex_2021-06-12.jpg
    Q_Ilex_2021-06-12.jpg
    212.6 KB · Views: 19
  • Q_Ilex2_2021-06-12.jpg
    Q_Ilex2_2021-06-12.jpg
    206.9 KB · Views: 16
  • Q_Ilex3_2021-06-12.jpg
    Q_Ilex3_2021-06-12.jpg
    213.4 KB · Views: 20
  • Q_Ilex4_2021-06-12.jpg
    Q_Ilex4_2021-06-12.jpg
    269.7 KB · Views: 20
Last edited:
Top Bottom