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| The holly oak I've grown from an acorn picked up in Italy is finally large enough to be turned into bonsai. Despite it being pot grown, I've done what I know how to get trunk size and taper, branch structure, etc.
What I want to learn is the optimum time to root prune and get it into its bonsai pot? Some oaks are better in the fall, others in the spring. Any ideas for this one? It does spend the winters in a cool (50F) very bright frost free place.
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Follow-Up Postings:
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| The best time to repot and root prune any deciduous tree that goes dormant is in late winter/early spring right before the leaf buds begin to swell and then open. Pruning the roots at this time on a dormant tree is best since it will minimize the stress induced by doing so. Early to late spring is also when the root system will grow the most and this in turn will also help quicken the recovery for the above mentioned time for root pruning. If the tree is fully dormant, no light is needed (even for evergreens and pines) since the tree is in a 'suspended animation' and inactive. Its also probably best if its kept out of the sun light as the sun can heat the tree up (especially in late winter on a unusually warmer day) possibly causing it to prematurely come out of its dormancy. Also I'm not sure how you've been going about storing your tree in winter while its dormant but I would try to keep the tree from any temperature around or above 50 degrees for more than a day or two as this will cause it to break its dormancy early. Usually somewhere between 30-40 degrees is optimal during winter storage (unheated shed, garage, greenhouse, cold frame etc...). |
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| Thanks....I was looking for more specific information as the oaks in general resent root disturbance. I had read some information that indicated that some oak species preferred fall root pruning and others in the spring and if you got it wrong it could kill the tree. Unfortunately, the species and preferred root pruning time wasn't elaborated on. For your info as well, Holm (Holly) Oak is an evergreen oak, not deciduous and I've got winter storage nailed down. |
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