Separating a Trident group planting...how and when?

[Poink88]

I bought a 3 plant (trident maple) group planting priced rather reasonably, with the intent of separating them and get 3 for 1. From what I was told, they were planted & growing together for 3 seasons now. The trees are about 2.5" to 3" in diameter and about 30" high (guessing here). I plan on air-layering these (eventually) rather than chopping them. If it is not obvious, I am trying to propagate trident maple (cheaply).

The root mass to the edge of the pot (approx 17x20) looks like a solid mass of fine roots. so no matter what I do, I will damage tons of roots and will probably slow these trees down a season's worth.

My 2 choices are:
Option #1. Saw between the 3 working around the biggest roots if possible.
Option #2. Try to work around the roots and wiggle them apart eventually. This could mean a lot of work and may work great OR very likely cause much more damage than option #1.
Option #3. Let them be and air layer all 3 at ground level since they all don't have nice nebari to begin with.

Any tips when and how I should go about separating them?

Thanks!

 

[davetree]

If you are taking the saw to them then late winter/early spring as the buds swell is a good time. I have sawed a lot of roots off tridents in the spring with no problems.

If they have bad nebari I would just go ahead and do the layers. Also if you start at the top you may be able to get a couple layers off each tree.

 

[Poink88]

If you are taking the saw to them then late winter/early spring as the buds swell is a good time. I have sawed a lot of roots off tridents in the spring with no problems.

If they have bad nebari I would just go ahead and do the layers. Also if you start at the top you may be able to get a couple layers off each tree.

Thanks!

That is the plan...actually hoping to get 3 trees out of each. Just not sure which way is the best approach...top to bottom or bottom up. Complicate that with separate first or layer (the top) first.

 

[rockm]

In the early spring, pull them out of the soil, take a hose to entire root mass, bareroot it. That will make it easier to see where the big roots are and what needs to be cut through. If you just saw through the mass you will likely sever alot of finer roots that don't need to be taken out...

Three years isn't that long for the roots to knit together tightly, so you might find with a bit of manipulation that the three can be separated without any sawing...

 

[Poink88]

Thanks rockm!

I'll probably go that route then.

 

[Poink88]

Separated the trio (as rockm suggested) and are now in their own training pots.

I ended chopping lots of roots on two because they are really badly formed (i.e. 2 layers of huge roots). It is a gamble to improve the nebari and I hope I did the right thing. We will know if they survived the "abuse" in a month or so.

Pics will follow...only if they survive. LOL

 

[berobinson82]

Pics will follow...only if they survive. LOL

Humbug! We can learn from successes AND failures. Post em up, Dario!

 

[Poink88]

I forgot to mention...I planted the 2 chopped bottom trunk/root sections. We will see if those send any sprouts too.

 

[lordy]

Like berobinson82 sez,

Let's see 'em big boy.

 

[Poink88]

View attachment 30664 Let's see 'em big boy.

Ok! Ok! (tough crowd!) LOL

Honestly, I was going to take pics last weekend but my camera died on me. After it got re-charged I already lost interest and it was getting late/darker too.

I will try again this weekend...maybe do the bending tool pictorial then as well.

 

[GrimLore]

Ok! Ok! (tough crowd!) LOL

Honestly, I was going to take pics last weekend but my camera died on me. After it got re-charged I already lost interest and it was getting late/darker too.

I will try again this weekend...maybe do the bending tool pictorial then as well.

You sound overwhelmed - I suggest you send some of you larger stock to me and have more time with what you keep

 

[Poink88]

Nice try Grim. As I said before, I actually want more but have no more space. I check each and everyone of my plants everyday (several times) and can't imagine working with less.

It was the camera that lost steam!!! LOL

BTW, it can take 300 pics per charge, I just started with a partially charged battery. Moving trees back and forth didn't help either...too much camera standby time.

 

[GrimLore]

Nice try Grim. As I said before, I actually want more but have no more space. I check each and everyone of my plants everyday (several times) and can't imagine working with less.

It was the camera that lost steam!!! LOL

BTW, it can take 300 pics per charge, I just started with a partially charged battery. Moving trees back and forth didn't help either...too much camera standby time.

I will pay shipping and buy you a better camera - NOT! I walked about Grandmothers farm today and dicovered there is a lot of collecting that I will busy with at her recommendation, especially around the 2 1/2 acre pond.

 

[Poink88]

I will pay shipping and buy you a better camera

Use "tennis shoes" in a sentence.

Grim is very tennis shoes (tenacious). LOL

 

[namnhi]

Still no pic???? what does one have to do to see some pics?

 

[Poink88]

Still no pic???? what does one have to do to see some pics?

Here they are. Not much to show though...even the sparse root flare is hidden for now.

Original
View attachment 30768

After separation
View attachment 30769 View attachment 30770 View attachment 30771

 

[Poink88]

The two root cuttings. Not sure if they will take.

View attachment 30773 View attachment 30774

 

[Erndogy]

Dario,
Have these cuttings shown any sign of life yet?

Ernie

 

[Poink88]

Dario,
Have these cuttings shown any sign of life yet?

Ernie

The roots don't have any shoots...though they rooted well lol. I disturbed one to see if it is still alive and it is. I'll give it a few months before disposing. Not sure if maple bud at roots w/o any nodes.

The branch/trunk cuttings are doing okay. I took 8, 4 died, 4 are growing. We had a HOA sprinkler problem and the cuttings got soaked for couple of weeks straight. I think I am lucky to have 4 survive given the situation/condition.

Here is a pic of 2 in one container I snapped in random more than 2 weeks ago. It is more lush now.
View attachment 35234

 

[Poink88]

Here are the original 3 trees that I chopped. Pics taken on March 23...
View attachment 35235 View attachment 35236 View attachment 35237