First post ! American beech - collected 2/20/18

[K_10_G]

Took advantage of the warm up earlier this week to collect some Beech I’ve had my eye on. Critique and comments welcome, first time working with this species. Planted in 50 / 50 kanuma pumice mix.

 

[Joe Dupre']

SOME beech?! Quite of few there. I see promise those specimens. They have some nice low branches to work with.

 

[JudyB]

That's a heck of a first post! Welcome, and looks like you have a lot to work with here.

 

[sorce]

Nice.

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[K_10_G]

SOME beech?! Quite of few there.

Heh yeah that’s what my back and legs were saying about half way back to my car, probably should have made it into two trips.

That's a heck of a first post! Welcome, and looks like you have a lot to work with here.

Thank you Judy happy to be here, many of your post in other threads were helpful in my planning and collection. I am thinking of using Rhizotonic from Canna to promote root growth after reading about harry Harrington’s success with it. Only one I could not get a full rootball, some fine roots were attached but not many.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Ooh, Ooh, Ooh! First tree could be great Literati! Others not bad starters at all.

 

[Wilson]

How have these beeches recovered? Did they all survive collection?

 

[K_10_G]

How have these beeches recovered? Did they all survive collection?

Hi Wilson, yes all of these collected beech are still alive !! Next years buds are starting to set up and roots are coming out of the drainage holes

 

[Wilson]

Hi Wilson, yes all of these collected beech are still alive !! Next years buds are starting to set up and roots are coming out of the drainage holes View attachment 204701View attachment 204702View attachment 204703View attachment 204704View attachment 204705View attachment 204706View attachment 204707View attachment 204708View attachment 204709View attachment 204710

Awesome! I love me some beeches! You have a whole test squad there in fine form, good on ya.

 

[K_10_G]

Here is a quick update on one of these beech, late winter work begins. Second from the top in original post. Pre clean up, and then after clean up from two potential fronts.

 

[K_10_G]

Here is a quick update on one. This is the largest from the group I collected in 2018. I found a pot that Is similar to what I was hoping for. Just wish it was a tad wider. Any thoughts are welcome !

 

[Joe Dupre']

It's coming along nicely. Thoughts: That top, right section of trunk and branch could be pruned back to give the tree more movement and taper. It's just a bit chunky in that area. The left branch then becomes the leader and the rest of the branches become size proportional. Try the towel technique.......cover the right section with towel and step back and look at it from several angles. That usually tells me all I need to know.

 

[Potato with leaves]

So are you a Rhizotonic believer?

 

[K_10_G]

It's coming along nicely. Thoughts: That top, right section of trunk and branch could be pruned back to give the tree more movement and taper. It's just a bit chunky in that area. The left branch then becomes the leader and the rest of the branches become size proportional. Try the towel technique.......cover the right section with towel and step back and look at it from several angles. That usually tells me all I need to know.

I Actually plan on keeping the movement flowing to the right. IMO that chunky bit give it a more steady transition from trunk to branches. The left top section with be lowered so as not to compete with right side and give some asymmetry.
I had a zoom with @MACH5 last spring and this is one we discussed the possibility on

 

[Joe Dupre']

You can't beat being there with the tree to make styling choices. I'm looking forward to seeing how it comes out.

 

[K_10_G]

I spent the day with Chase at Rosade Studio. The pot from previous post was slightly too small and I was happy to find this hexagonal in the back buried on the shelves. Still need to get a bit of wire on the tree and define areas of foliage. In a few years I really think this could be a show worthy item

 

[K_10_G]

I also put together this clump from some of the others from OP. I wish I had a few sapling/whips to add to the back but was unable to source anything that matched. In a year or two I will try and bump this up from 6 to 9. This is something I have been wanting to do for the last 2 year and am quite happy with the outcome !! Some lines need to be fine tuned but very excited to see how this composition ages

 

[JudyB]

I think that the pot is still too small for the tree. Would be nice to see something a bit shallower and wider to enhance the light feel of the branching and movement. Nice collection for sure.

 

[Colorado]

I also put together this clump from some of the others from OP. I wish I had a few sapling/whips to add to the back but was unable to source anything that matched. In a year or two I will try and bump this up from 6 to 9. This is something I have been wanting to do for the last 2 year and am quite happy with the outcome !! Some lines need to be fine tuned but very excited to see how this composition ages

GREAT use of material!! This turned out awesome.

 

[K_10_G]

I think that the pot is still too small for the tree. Would be nice to see something a bit shallower and wider to enhance the light feel of the branching and movement. Nice collection for sure.

Judy I agree 100% but this was a nice transitional container. The clay is THICK so actual soil area isnt too much deeper than I had hoped. I have been in the search for something like you described but hadn’t been able to nail it down. Shooting for a nice grey/dirty cream container for an calm analagous pairing.

I also screwed a piece of Alumet diebond on to the bottom to help anchor but it should also help with getting the roots ready for something a bit shallower.