Guy Vitale
Shohin
I suspect as the bark matures and starts flaking again it'll become less noticeable. I would be corious what the co-op has to say about it.
Dawn redwood bark - what is going on?
- Thread starter coh
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ColinFraser
Masterpiece
I have a grafted dawn redwood, and the understock's bark gets all spongy like this, but the grafted "gold rush" on top doesn't do it at all. Interesting.
LanceMac10
Imperial Masterpiece
coh
Imperial Masterpiece
I don't know if it's just maturing bark, because not all the trees do this. Only a few.
As to the search for answers, I never took the tree to the cooperative extension to be examined. They didn't have any explanations based on the photos I sent. I cut off most of the affected branches and planted the tree back in the ground to grow for a year or two. We'll see what happens.
Earlier this spring, I was at Bill's and noted the same type of thing happening on some dawn redwoods. He has a beautiful forest planting (there's some photos in his book I'm pretty sure) and I've never seen it on any of those trees. But he had some other dawn redwoods in one of his shade houses that I think he acquired fairly recently (not sure, maybe he'll comment if he sees this) and some of those trees had the flaky/spongy thing going on. I think he said he's seen it before and it's not a problem (except maybe cosmetically).
So for now, I'm going with "it's within the realm of normal for the species". I really don't want my group planting to have a bunch of normal trees and one that does this, so I'll keep an eye on it and maybe will have to find another to replace it. I do have a bunch of seedlings coming along.
As to the search for answers, I never took the tree to the cooperative extension to be examined. They didn't have any explanations based on the photos I sent. I cut off most of the affected branches and planted the tree back in the ground to grow for a year or two. We'll see what happens.
Earlier this spring, I was at Bill's and noted the same type of thing happening on some dawn redwoods. He has a beautiful forest planting (there's some photos in his book I'm pretty sure) and I've never seen it on any of those trees. But he had some other dawn redwoods in one of his shade houses that I think he acquired fairly recently (not sure, maybe he'll comment if he sees this) and some of those trees had the flaky/spongy thing going on. I think he said he's seen it before and it's not a problem (except maybe cosmetically).
So for now, I'm going with "it's within the realm of normal for the species". I really don't want my group planting to have a bunch of normal trees and one that does this, so I'll keep an eye on it and maybe will have to find another to replace it. I do have a bunch of seedlings coming along.
LanceMac10
Imperial Masterpiece
Roger, that!
It is in the book, as you mentioned. Shame it is only a smaller photo.
This one stayed out all winter with no protection techniques and survived. Though it did grow thru the bottom of the container and I'll have to dig a big hole to get it out.
Did help girth up the lower trunk nicely, though.
Michael at BonsaiWest makes some groves, or used to more frequently, that are really nice. Some of the older, nicer compositions where a bit pricey, I'm talkin' around a grand or so, but really amazing.
I've no spot for the size of them, they seem to appreciate a fair amount of shade and cool roots. I need to convince my landlady to let me use some shade cloth!!
I'm sure you'll remedy your situation.
It is in the book, as you mentioned. Shame it is only a smaller photo.
This one stayed out all winter with no protection techniques and survived. Though it did grow thru the bottom of the container and I'll have to dig a big hole to get it out.
Did help girth up the lower trunk nicely, though.
Michael at BonsaiWest makes some groves, or used to more frequently, that are really nice. Some of the older, nicer compositions where a bit pricey, I'm talkin' around a grand or so, but really amazing.
I've no spot for the size of them, they seem to appreciate a fair amount of shade and cool roots. I need to convince my landlady to let me use some shade cloth!!
I'm sure you'll remedy your situation.
LanceMac10
Imperial Masterpiece
Follow up....
The backside.....interesting....
if a little fuzzy......
The backside.....interesting....
if a little fuzzy......
jcrossett
Chumono
I have 3 haven't seen this yet none are only 2-3 years old thou. I guess it's nothing to "worry " about seeing it doesn't hurt the tree. See if it does it more next spring.
M. Frary
Bonsai Godzilla
Has this bark been hammered?
LanceMac10
Imperial Masterpiece
I might have poured a little beer in there!
By 2 AM I was hammered though.....
By 2 AM I was hammered though.....
samuel wimsett
Seed
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I've been watching this thread for several months. I keep coming back to it because it's the ONLY discussion I can find (and I've spent hours) on the internet that describes what I'm seeing on my DR.
I purchased 10 bare root saplings from an online vendor 3 years ago. All arrived covered in this brown gritty dust. I thought they were moldy but I planted all 10.
The first year I lost 4 to rabbits the rest grew about 18" but retained the brown powdery stuff. The next fall I purchased 4 more from another vendor to replace to rabbit victims. The 4 new trees did not have the brown powdery bark.
The fastest growing of the first lot seemed to be effected the worst and (although growing) by 2nd year I was seeing dieback on effected branches. I was afraid it would spread to other species nearby so I cut it down and burned it reluctantly.
The remaining 9 trees are 2-3 years old and about 3' tall. Every tree now shows this powdery dust beneath curling and peaking bark (almost like a river birch).
I would like to know if they are all doomed and if I'm risking spreading a disease to my entire neighborhood.
Has anyone come to a conclusion on if this is normal or a disease?
I purchased 10 bare root saplings from an online vendor 3 years ago. All arrived covered in this brown gritty dust. I thought they were moldy but I planted all 10.
The first year I lost 4 to rabbits the rest grew about 18" but retained the brown powdery stuff. The next fall I purchased 4 more from another vendor to replace to rabbit victims. The 4 new trees did not have the brown powdery bark.
The fastest growing of the first lot seemed to be effected the worst and (although growing) by 2nd year I was seeing dieback on effected branches. I was afraid it would spread to other species nearby so I cut it down and burned it reluctantly.
The remaining 9 trees are 2-3 years old and about 3' tall. Every tree now shows this powdery dust beneath curling and peaking bark (almost like a river birch).
I would like to know if they are all doomed and if I'm risking spreading a disease to my entire neighborhood.
Has anyone come to a conclusion on if this is normal or a disease?
Guy Vitale
Shohin
I really believe this is normal for young DR trees, at least some. Some of mine have had it and some not, but all grew very vigorous. Sorry I don't have anything concrete to back that claim up, just my personal opinion based on personal experience. Also, DR will sprout up from the roots, so if rabbits nibble them down, give them a chance to resprout.
Wilson
Masterpiece
I have a good sized one in front of my house, and I have seen this on growing branches. Tree has always grown like crazy, even in zone 4!
LanceMac10
Imperial Masterpiece
If you look closely/thru the fuzzy picture quality, the back side that gets almost no sun still retains "fuzz". The side that has good sun exposure has "cleaner" bark.
Dawn Redwoods have bark similar to their big brother, the Coastal Redwood. Spongy, corky....soft. I think rapid growth will trigger this strange type of fuzzy bark.
If it's fungal, it doesn't show in the foliage and there isn't any weird "secretions" anywhere....
I'm gonna' have to dig the whole thing up, tote and all, soon. It escaped thru all the drainage holes I drilled in the bottom. This baby AIN'T moving!!! Made it thru two winters!!
Dawn Redwoods have bark similar to their big brother, the Coastal Redwood. Spongy, corky....soft. I think rapid growth will trigger this strange type of fuzzy bark.
If it's fungal, it doesn't show in the foliage and there isn't any weird "secretions" anywhere....
I'm gonna' have to dig the whole thing up, tote and all, soon. It escaped thru all the drainage holes I drilled in the bottom. This baby AIN'T moving!!! Made it thru two winters!!
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
l
Wilson
Masterpiece
If I remember to do it this year, I am going to try some air layers on mine. I would love to have some in pots!
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
I responded but had to backtrack. Didn't look at the original pics...
LanceMac10
Imperial Masterpiece
coh
Imperial Masterpiece
No, it still happens on some of the trees. Seems most prominent on fast growing/young trunk/branch segments. All of my trees are currently in the ground but I should be getting them
into a pot (forest/grouping) in a year or two. Will be interesting to see how they behave once potted. Haven't lost any of the trunks or branches so it doesn't seem to be harmful
to the tree, just ugly (and not in a good way!)
My Amber Glow Metasequoia glyptostroboides has this showing now. I noticed dieback on two branches but not on the branches that show this. I am attaching photos. This tree has been in ground for 2 years.
Attachments
boonefrog
Sapling
Reviving to see if anyone has seen any negative effects beyond aesthetic or any cures. I just noticed this exact phenomenon for the first time on my single DR that I've had thickening in ground for a couple years now. I may have missed it last year, but it certainly caught my eye walking through the grow beds this morning. Unfortunately just planted 10 more DR 1-yr old seedlings nearby. Hoping it doesn't spread!
