So I bought these 2 Contorta hazelnuts, as they were around when at a garden centre and I can't say no to them. I chose the best 2 I could find.
I did a little experiment, which I don't think has born much fruit but maybe you can tell me more. 1 (in the black pot) had 3 large branches, 2 were pruned and it was left in its pot. Seems to be planted in maybe loam? Its a very sandy black soil. Very water retentive.
The other was re-potted in to mostly inorganic clay fired granules and a bit of pine bark. It was not pruned.
The pics of original purchase escape me but I will post when I find them..
Here they are currently:
DSC_0895 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_0901 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_0902 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_0900 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
The other:
DSC_0897 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
I left this new shoot to grow (as you can see it must be part of the root or something, as its completely straight. It also grew extremely quickly, compared to the contorta parts), to thicken the base, which it has started to do.
DSC_0898 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_0903 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
I've learnt a few things... I was very cautious with these when bought, and I could have afforded not to be. I was scared to prune more but they are both doing very well, new buds everywhere now too. I could have progressed them more if I had pruned more. That shoot I left to grow to thicken the base, isn't quite at the base, so unsure if it will thicken down more... so don't know if I should cut off or not.
The idea behind both is gnary, ugly, non-rule abiding.. POTENTIALLY... literati in their future, as this species lends itself to that.
Or maybe if I can get 1-3 solid, tapering trunks, I can try to ramify for a lovely winter image.
I think both have potential to become something good, but will take time. Its a very slow growing species.
Your thoughts?
I did a little experiment, which I don't think has born much fruit but maybe you can tell me more. 1 (in the black pot) had 3 large branches, 2 were pruned and it was left in its pot. Seems to be planted in maybe loam? Its a very sandy black soil. Very water retentive.
The other was re-potted in to mostly inorganic clay fired granules and a bit of pine bark. It was not pruned.
The pics of original purchase escape me but I will post when I find them..
Here they are currently:
DSC_0895 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_0901 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_0902 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_0900 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
The other:
DSC_0897 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
I left this new shoot to grow (as you can see it must be part of the root or something, as its completely straight. It also grew extremely quickly, compared to the contorta parts), to thicken the base, which it has started to do.
DSC_0898 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
DSC_0903 by Conor Dashwood, on Flickr
I've learnt a few things... I was very cautious with these when bought, and I could have afforded not to be. I was scared to prune more but they are both doing very well, new buds everywhere now too. I could have progressed them more if I had pruned more. That shoot I left to grow to thicken the base, isn't quite at the base, so unsure if it will thicken down more... so don't know if I should cut off or not.
The idea behind both is gnary, ugly, non-rule abiding.. POTENTIALLY... literati in their future, as this species lends itself to that.
Or maybe if I can get 1-3 solid, tapering trunks, I can try to ramify for a lovely winter image.
I think both have potential to become something good, but will take time. Its a very slow growing species.
Your thoughts?