Tiny Trees
- Peter Butler
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- tom_tom_go
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- Peter Butler
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I bought some of these a few years ago. They do take some pruning but eventually they lose their shape and/or start to get too big and dominate the surroundings.
The solution was, of course, to buy some more trees when Lidl had them on offer, dig up the old ones (and reuse them elsewhere) and plant the new ones.
The solution was, of course, to buy some more trees when Lidl had them on offer, dig up the old ones (and reuse them elsewhere) and plant the new ones.
Tony Willmore
Rhos Helyg Locomotive Works: http://www.rhoshelyg.me.uk
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- andymctractor
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Garden Railways magazine had an *article fairly recently where conifers that had been hard pruned lost their shape with the top gettinng very woody. The solution, which I've not yet tried myself, is to pick a horizontal branch with the correct shape near the top of the trunk bend it upwards and bind it to the trunk in a vertical position. In time apparently the bend becomes permanent and the tree has a few more years as convincing lineside foliage.TonyW:104090 wrote:I bought some of these a few years ago. They do take some pruning but eventually they lose their shape and/or start to get too big and dominate the surroundings.
Just checked and the *article is on page 68 of December 2009 Garden Railways.
'How to prune your dwarf Alberta spruce' by Nancy Norris
I expect much of the advice could be used for other varieties.
Last edited by andymctractor on Fri Jan 02, 2015 11:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
Regards
Andy McMahon
If it moves, salute it. If it doesn't move, paint it. (RN sailors basic skills course 1968)
Andy McMahon
If it moves, salute it. If it doesn't move, paint it. (RN sailors basic skills course 1968)
- Peter Butler
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- Soar Valley Light
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As I understand it, Bonsai trees are miniaturised by pruning the roots back on a regular basis. I wonder if tree could be treated this way if the were kept in a pot or basket of some sort, dropped into a slightly larger container in the garden.
More research required I think. That may be a project for this weekend!
More research required I think. That may be a project for this weekend!
"Smith! Why do you only come to work four days a week?
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"
- MDLR
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That WILL work - it's how we do it at Butterley! We now have small trees with INCREDIBLY thick trunks.....................Soar Valley Light:107074 wrote:As I understand it, Bonsai trees are miniaturised by pruning the roots back on a regular basis. I wonder if tree could be treated this way if the were kept in a pot or basket of some sort, dropped into a slightly larger container in the garden.
More research required I think. That may be a project for this weekend!
- Soar Valley Light
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Hi Brian,
That's very interesting. How often do you trim and how long have you been trimming for? I really must get up there and have a look, it's just going to feel very strange going back there after all these years.
Hi Joe,
'Pot binding' might have some limited effect but never under estimate the strength of roots, especially tree roots. We spend a fortune at work every year replacing cess drains that tree roots have found, forced their way into and blocked. Most people with experience of any piped drainage system will tell you the same. For proof of 'root power' you only have to look at any wall close to a tree of average size or more. It's odds on that the wall will have been recently repointed or rebuilt or be in need of such. It's something that might be a suitable option for smaller, less woody plants though.
Happy gardening!
Andrew
That's very interesting. How often do you trim and how long have you been trimming for? I really must get up there and have a look, it's just going to feel very strange going back there after all these years.
Hi Joe,
'Pot binding' might have some limited effect but never under estimate the strength of roots, especially tree roots. We spend a fortune at work every year replacing cess drains that tree roots have found, forced their way into and blocked. Most people with experience of any piped drainage system will tell you the same. For proof of 'root power' you only have to look at any wall close to a tree of average size or more. It's odds on that the wall will have been recently repointed or rebuilt or be in need of such. It's something that might be a suitable option for smaller, less woody plants though.
Happy gardening!
Andrew
"Smith! Why do you only come to work four days a week?
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"
- Soar Valley Light
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Thanks Brian,
Is there a lot of pruning to do?
What sort of pot size are they planted in?
How big is the container that the pot sits in?
do they need special watering ?
What species have you planted?
Sorry for asking so many questions but this has really caught my attention (can you tell! ). I'm definitely going to give this a go and want to gather as much information as I can before I start.
Andrew
Is there a lot of pruning to do?
What sort of pot size are they planted in?
How big is the container that the pot sits in?
do they need special watering ?
What species have you planted?
Sorry for asking so many questions but this has really caught my attention (can you tell! ). I'm definitely going to give this a go and want to gather as much information as I can before I start.
Andrew
"Smith! Why do you only come to work four days a week?
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"
I remember reading an article about Bonsai many years ago by a Japanese writer. The technigue they used was to remove the innards from half a grapefruit and plant the seedling tree in the shell. Then any roots growing through are trimmed off flush. Not sure how long the shell lasts though.
Philip
Philip
Philip
- Soar Valley Light
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Hi Brian,
It sounds like that might be the best option. I'm no where near being in a position to plant the garden yet (just got back in from completing some more enabling works for the terra forming to start) but I guess starting these tress off is something that can be done now and they can be planted up in due course. Is there a good day to catch Glenis?
Hi Phillipy,
I remember something similar, I think it was in a Ladybird book of 'things to do' about a million years ago. I think Mum and I might have given it a try but I seem to remember the grapefruit skin rotting away before the tree pushed out any roots! These were the days before plastic plant pots and such like so I'm sure there must be a suitable alternative out there now.
Thanks guys,
Andrew
It sounds like that might be the best option. I'm no where near being in a position to plant the garden yet (just got back in from completing some more enabling works for the terra forming to start) but I guess starting these tress off is something that can be done now and they can be planted up in due course. Is there a good day to catch Glenis?
Hi Phillipy,
I remember something similar, I think it was in a Ladybird book of 'things to do' about a million years ago. I think Mum and I might have given it a try but I seem to remember the grapefruit skin rotting away before the tree pushed out any roots! These were the days before plastic plant pots and such like so I'm sure there must be a suitable alternative out there now.
Thanks guys,
Andrew
"Smith! Why do you only come to work four days a week?
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"
- Soar Valley Light
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- Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2013 5:18 pm
- Location: North West Leicestershire
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