Ground layering question

[Lazylightningny]

This June, I ground layered a winterberry (in a pond basket) and an American Hornbeam (purchased on facebook and placed in the ground). My question is, is it generally wise to separate the trunk now, or in the spring?

 

[Forsoothe!]

When it's actively growing and has enough growing season left to grow on it's own and mature buds for next year's spring growth. For me in 6b Michigan, June.

 

[0soyoung]

If this is all happening in a pond basket, there is no reason to do anything until it needs to be repotted - you know, the substrate is fully populated, bound by all the roots in it, and maybe starting to drain a little slowly. As you know, the old/original roots are not being fed (unless a bridge developed) and will exhaust their starch reserves in another season or so. After that it will live on by the ground layer roots.

So, as long as you know the ground layer is generating roots, who cares? Next year, the year after. It doesn't matter until you need to repot it.

 

[Lazylightningny]

@Forseethe! @0soyoung Thank you both for your insight. So no rush; I'll take a look next year.

 

[Forsoothe!]

If this is all happening in a pond basket, there is no reason to do anything until it needs to be repotted - you know, the substrate is fully populated, bound by all the roots in it, and maybe starting to drain a little slowly. As you know, the old/original roots are not being fed (unless a bridge developed) and will exhaust their starch reserves in another season or so. After that it will live on by the ground layer roots.

So, as long as you know the ground layer is generating roots, who cares? Next year, the year after. It doesn't matter until you need to repot it.

I don't know much about the subject, but I've never heard that. That insinuates that the trunk is girdled 360° which I would consider more than plain risky. I am doing two that I girdled in three one-sixth segments evenly spaced around the base of the tree above the graft, about a year ago. They have shown no signs of disruption and are growing well. I plan to peek next year. Discuss that.

 

[Lazylightningny]

I'll take a peek today

 

[0soyoung]

Generation of adventitious roots depends upon elevated auxin in the cambium. Bridging intentionally/accidentally gives a path for auxin to be 'drained away' and tends to inhibit adventitious root formation.


... polo

 

[JesusFreak]

I didn’t want to start a new thread but I am curious which one is better to do....ground laying in a basket or the ground itself?

 

[MrWunderful]

I didn’t want to start a new thread but I am curious which one is better to do....ground laying in a basket or the ground itself?

The ground almost always allows for faster development. But there is no real “better”