Quick blue oak progression (q. douglasii)

[Potawatomi13]

Keep going.

 

[Mikecheck123]

Buds are popping! It survived the Virginia winter! There's pretty inconsistent information out there about whether this is hardy down to zone 8 or zone 5. Prettty big difference. But these live up in the mountains in California, so I think they're pretty tough. Anyway, not a big surprise that it survived temps down to 11F, but a relief nonetheless.

 

[Mikecheck123]

Time to check the roots. Looking pretty good. I'm a bit disappointed that they didn't fill the whole grow box, though.

 

[Mikecheck123]

So I'm just leaving them alone this year. I'm just going to change the planting angle to hide that ugly root in the back. Better!

 

[Mikecheck123]

I'm just going to grow out the apex this year and try to thicken the trunk. The tree is doing remarkably well with that weird callous at the top. I'll probably cut that all off eventually, but will let it grow strongly for the time being.

 

[Mikecheck123]

One of the biggest mysteries of my life is that all these slats in the grow box used to have little nails in them to hold down the screen. THEY'RE ALL GONE NOW. WHAT HAPPENED????

I take it they all popped out and were lost somewhere between California and Virginia?

 

[August44]

Maybe rusted away. Trees is looking good!

 

[Mikecheck123]

 

[jerzyjerzy]

Time to check the roots. Looking pretty good. I'm a bit disappointed that they didn't fill the whole grow box, though.

View attachment 430408

 

[Mikecheck123]

New growth everywhere, flaking bark, it's about time to style it up for another picture.

 

[AnutterBonsai]

very pretty tree

 

[Mikecheck123]

My sacrifice branches are going strong, 12-18 inches of growth this year.

But I was wondering--do I have to worry about them being preferred to the detriment of the lower branches?

One thing I've learned about this species is that branches in the shade die back. So I'm trying to keep the lower ones in full sun.

Any other thoughts on that?

 

[Potawatomi13]

My sacrifice branches are going strong, 12-18 inches of growth this year.

But I was wondering--do I have to worry about them being preferred to the detriment of the lower branches?

One thing I've learned about this species is that branches in the shade die back. So I'm trying to keep the lower ones in full sun.

Any other thoughts on that?

View attachment 451453

Correct. Get rid of shade. Grow 1-2 tall sacrifices removing low shading branches from these. Same as Telperion Farms Pine trunk development technique. Taller/better

 

[rockm]

My sacrifice branches are going strong, 12-18 inches of growth this year.

But I was wondering--do I have to worry about them being preferred to the detriment of the lower branches?

One thing I've learned about this species is that branches in the shade die back. So I'm trying to keep the lower ones in full sun.

Any other thoughts on that?

View attachment 451453

Oaks should be in as much full sun as you can get. Shade is your enemy. Shade the grow box when temps get over 95.

 

[Mikecheck123]

After two full seasons in the grow box, I'm not very happy with the root mass. It's just... still so small. I'm going to repot into an Anderson flat and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Zelrod]

I can't add anything but wanted to thank you for your time to post the updates. I'm glad to see your oak doing well. Good luck on the root growth in the Anderson flat this year.