Some trident seedling

[Wee]

Reminds me I need to repot mine today.....If you ever run out of tiles just drop by the office.....We throw plenty of scrape marble and granite away everyday. I need to find somewhere to start a grow bed....My aussie would also wreak havoc on anything I had planted in the ground if they were in his side of the yard.

Brian

 

[Dav4]

A few more from today. I hope that second one makes it?.

 

[jmw_bonsai]

Caution, mad scientist at work!

 

[Dav4]

More fun today...

 

[Dav4]

OK, so the weather is moving in… It’s raining steadily right now and I can hear thunder in the distance. I happen to be up on my grow out garden by my house to see if anything was waking up and I decided to check out that nebari on this Trident seedling that’s been in the ground for about five years. Holy crap, pretty good taper and root spread. I wasn’t planning on digging one this year, but it looks like it may be time to get it out of the ground… And I won’t have time to dig it for at least another three weeks if I don’t get it today. The radar looks ominous ...

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Good luck, we just got a torrential downpour.

 

[Dav4]

Good luck, we just got a torrential downpour.

The deed is done... soaked and will need new underwear after lightening struck somewhere behind my property during the dig.... currently heeled into a pile of turface and will get more meaningful work tomorrow.

 

[Dav4]

The bad weather cleared out late yesterday afternoon and I was able to get more work done… Just finished this afternoon. Not bad for 5 years.

 

[James W.]

A few more from today. I hope that second one makes it?.
View attachment 229284

What is the "dirt" you are coating the roots with?

 

[Dav4]

What is the "dirt" you are coating the roots with?

Moistened long fibered sphagnum moss

 

[James W.]

Moistened long fibered sphagnum moss

Thank you

 

[Dav4]

You just gotta love a trident’s vigor...?.. I’ll bet that chop scar will be fully callussed over by the end of next years growing season.

 

[Dav4]

Growing like weeds... maybe 3 years in the ground some almost 20 ft tall . I’m experimenting with mid to late season chops... all trees will get dug and roots worked next spring. Most will likely go back in the ground for another few years.

 

[Dav4]

You just gotta love a trident’s vigor...?.. I’ll bet that chop scar will be fully callussed over by the end of next years growing season.
View attachment 242922View attachment 242923

I actually ended up recarving the chop to smooth the transition from the lower to mid trunk sections ( I’m also hoping to make the callus a bit smoother on the redo). The new leader is already 3+ feet tall.

 

[Dav4]

I decided to work the roots on the tridents that were chopped this past summer. Normally, I'd wait until spring to be this aggressive but I'm trying new things in my yard and I thought this might actually be as good or better then spring for these... we'll see. My hope is the work now, when root growth is good, will get roots to grow where it's needed.... and the tree should hit the ground running next spring. These trees have only been in the ground for 2-3 years... maybe should have worked them sooner.

 

[MrWunderful]

Looks good. I am planning on planting 10-20 trident seedlings this year at my inlaws -they have much more space and my father in law loves gardening and will take care of them for me.

 

[just.wing.it]

Ooooo man...risky business!

Great thread, and great progress.
Cant wait to see that 8" trunk.

 

[Dav4]

Ooooo man...risky business!

Great thread, and great progress.
Cant wait to see that 8" trunk.

Me, too!

fwiw, I bet they’ll be fine... but like I said, we’ll see!

 

[small trees]

Me, too!

fwiw, I bet they’ll be fine... but like I said, we’ll see!

I'll be checking to see how they fare next spring.. I've really wanted to work some of my trees but I just don't trust the weather not to finally cool off right after I do something like you did.

 

[Dav4]

I'll be checking to see how they fare next spring.. I've really wanted to work some of my trees but I just don't trust the weather not to finally cool off right after I do something like you did.

I'll be sure to update this next spring. Fwiw, I not only want to see if it can be done, but also, if it's better then spring root work as far as the ultimate results concerning design and growth. Will there be tighter internodes verses longer, how do wounds and chops heal, how do the roots respond?
Still green and no wilting 6 days later...