Hornbeam 1

[BuckeyeOne]

I was given permission last fall to collect hornbeams from a property near my home.
This is the first one collected yesterday. It was kept in a tub with about a inch of water and covered with a trash bag overnight.
The grow box is 15" X 15" X 7" deep. I am using a layer of Hydroton on the bottom for an aeration layer and a mix of mostly pumice will be used in the box.
I will beginning the job of flattening the rootbase and cleanup today.

 

[leatherback]

Big stump!

I will beginning the job of flattening the rootbase and cleanup today.

WOuld you not let the tree deal with the work so far, and let it grow some roots first?

 

[BobbyLane]

Big stump!


WOuld you not let the tree deal with the work so far, and let it grow some roots first?

i thought the same, but only because he made a box large enough to house the entire rootball. might as well just stick the whole thing in there now, let it power on and reduce when it goes into a pot.

 

[BuckeyeOne]

I understand the thought to allow it to grow a better root mass before trimming, but it would have been unmanageable with time.
I decided to reduce the root ball to a more manageable flatness and size.
There were many roots foreign to the root mass that needed removed and a series of intertwined and fused roots. A very large tap root needed removed to allow it to sit flat.
There are many more to harvest after this one if it doesn't cooperate.

 

[leatherback]

You are braver than me. But probably it will be fine!

 

[BuckeyeOne]

You are braver than me. But probably it will be fine!

You have to understand that this was a 16-18' tree cut down to 1'!
It has grown uncontrolled with no help from anything but nature.
When I washed off the dirt, it was a total mess of tangled and foreign roots.
I didn't have much choice if it was to be manageable down the road.

 

[leatherback]

When I washed off the dirt, it was a total mess of tangled and foreign roots.

Ohw I understand!
I am guilty of not taking enough roots off at times. But I have also killed by takig more than it could handle.

I think it is a great start there!

 

[BuckeyeOne]

@leatherback Thanks!! Means a lot coming from you!

 

[BuckeyeOne]

Has anyone tried the black garbage bag technique as suggested by Jonas?
Apparently, it is supposed to keep the moisture level high to promote new growth.

 

[leatherback]

Has anyone tried the black garbage bag technique as suggested by Jonas?
Apparently, it is supposed to keep the moisture level high to promote new growth.

it is very common for many yamadori collectors, especially for tricky old trees.. In this case you have a species that takes root reductions well.

 

[BobbyLane]

ive cut them back that hard, but ive left more feeder roots on each big root, even if its a few strands. it looks like you just have all big roots n no feeders from the pics. it should be fine might be a slow start though as it currently has no buds or branches. i get what you mean by making it more manageable, ive done loads with similar stumps, but mine usually have or start with low branches or shoots. never used a bag just stick it in full sun and make sure the soil doesnt dry out, maybe you could of sprinkled in a little sphagnum moss. i also use sea weed and fish emulsion as tonics. feed with miracle gro, tomorite and slow release pellets. i feed my hornbeams at every watering, heavily diluted doses though. house plant doses in a large watering can for the miracle gro.

 

[BuckeyeOne]

sprinkled in a little sphagnum moss

I just started soaking some sphagnum moss to top dress!
The soil mix is a majority of pumice with some organics, so it should stay fairly damp.
It still is only in the 40's F here, so it will go in a sheltered area until things warm up.
Thanks for the advice!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Nice "stump", I like you dug a tall tree, and were not afraid to "chop". It will be interesting to see how it sprouts out. Not much to do but water and wait for the next year or two. It will take a while to get growing with that radicle root reduction.

 

[BuckeyeOne]

It's alive!!! I used the black plastic bag trick to try and maintain high humidity levels. Most of the growth are suckers, but there are small buds pushing at the outer ring of the cut.

 

[BuckeyeOne]

Should I remove the suckers from the base now or leave to develop the roots?

 

[BobbyLane]

if it was mine and i had ruled out them being part of a future design and i was confident the tree would be fine i would remove them. as they would be sapping energy from my keepers.

 

[BuckeyeOne]

if it was mine and i had ruled out them being part of a future design and i was confident the tree would be fine i would remove them. as they would be sapping energy from my keepers.

Thank you. Don't see any place for them in the future.