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How Quercus Fusiformis faired the winter in Pa
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Posted by
poaky1 6 Pa (
My Page) on
Sat, Apr 30, 11 at 22:37
| I got this tree from Arizona in mid-winter and it is in ground in Pa now. It isn't leaved out, it has brown leaves clinging on and looks pretty bad, but there are ( at least ) 2 swollen buds near the bottom, little red bumps that should be getting leaves soon ( I hope) and I guess this is what I should expect with the top growth being in zone 9 and coming to zone 6 in mid-winter.I am glad any of it is alive. I have hope for it that I can prune it to these buds and it will do fine for the growing season, I was worried all the rain would hurt it, being from a desert climate but it is in an upland site, which is very well drained. Hope it does okay through the next winter, but I'll worry about that when the time comes. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: How Quercus Fusiformis faired the winter in Pa
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| Don't know anything about moving this particular tree, but it sounds like it is coming to life. Hopefully those little buds will continue up the tree. Speaking of that, how tall and wide is this tree? Are you sure is it fusiformis? If so, it should be fine in the dry spot. My little Q. virginiana actually grows better when the soil has been dry for a while. Good luck with it adapting to your cold winters! It sounds like it did OK so far. Also, my little q virginiana pushed out new leaves while the previous years turned brown and fell off the tree. The buds are VERY small when they first begin to enlarge. They were also very scattered in scheme and gradually filled in the whole tree while losing the old leaves. |
RE: How Quercus Fusiformis faired the winter in Pa
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| The tree is 2 1/2 to 3 feet tall and about a foot wide, or less. I thought that the top wouldn't be good, I figured the zone it was from would put it on a early leaf-out schedule, and that it is probably dead on top when the buds never swelled. So I will have to see how this tree acts here up north. It actually hasn't let go of those brown leaves so those buds may still show up.I am sure it's Fusiformis, I searched for it specifically, it had experienced 30 F at the nursery in Arizona, and in the high teens here on a couple nights. It is zone 6 hardy according to many sources. I tried the Q. Virginiana and it couldn't take the long cold winter here. The fusiformis is said to be more winter hardy, but said to grow slower. The branches do seem to be still flexible. I need to be patient I guess, spring has been early here with no freezes here, (knock on wood) so it seems like spring is further along.You are lucky you can grow the Virginiana there, the Fusiformis is said to be very similar in appearance, but It will be getting less intense sun so I guess my results may vary. |
RE: How Quercus Fusiformis faired the winter in Pa
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| Well, this was its first winter so we will see! We had low of 3* and a couple of days that never made it out of the teens. I have noticed very minor branch die back on just a couple of branches and only about .25" at that. I think that was more due to continued stem elongation too close to the first frost than the coldest of the winter temps. I planted that little 2 foot whip 1 year ago next week and now it is about 3.5-4 feet tall and put our branches like humans grow hair! I will have to prune it sometime later this year. Some of the branches grew 3 feet last year with MANY side branches and some of those side branches produced side branches lol I am sure some bizarre cold snap will probably kill it in the future, but I actually planted it for my grandchildren to play on in 30+ years. Mine did put out leaves on the lower part of the tree first maybe even 2 weeks ahead of the top. I have new fully formed (and sized) leaves on bottom but only slightly swollen buds on top. Maybe you fusiformis will surprise you! At any rate, good luck =) |
RE: How Quercus Fusiformis faired the winter in Pa
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| It's been over 2 weeks of waiting for leaves, close to three weeks actually, and it turns out those 2 buds are the only places of life in the tree from last season. I am glad it survived at all, but the leaves are not out yet, they are on their way but are bumps on the trunk still, and will probably not be actually out for at least 4 or 5 days and possibly longer because these buds were swelled on May 1st and just now are like a ripe zit. I know they are gonna be leaves but maybe not until near June. The tree won't have a long enough season to grow right. jOnd03, I just saw your post, I missed it when it was new. Your little Q Virginiana should be fine, you're in the right zone, I've heard your state can get darn cold in winter, one person experienced below zero by several degrees in Arkansas this past year but it must be duration with the Live oaks. If the tree can't adjust to northern life, which it could possibly, in time, I do have 2 hybrids of live oak /overcup that survived last winter and have leaves, and should get pretty impressive. |
RE: How Quercus Fusiformis faired the winter in Pa
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| I think your biggest mistake was transplanting it in mid-winter. Should've done it in the Fall or waited until Spring. |
RE: How Quercus Fusiformis faired the winter in Pa
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| The actual planting was in extreme late winter. It was stored in a outbuilding in it's pot for the half of winter. I planted it late Feb or roundabouts. Buying in spring would have been better. I was searching for this tree at any available nursery, and jumped at buying it when I found it. The tree isn't dead yet, but if it gets leaves in early June, it will have 3 1/2 months or a little more, until fall, I wonder if that is enough. |
RE: How Quercus Fusiformis faired the winter in Pa
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| Well, sad to say, those leaves never appeared. So after killing the poor tree. If I try this tree again it will be from seed sown in the fall. Live oak may not be able to handle snowload in the winter anyway. I have Shingle oak where this poor tree is. I left the fusiformis in the ground just in case, but it's June already and hope for it is slight. The shingle is close in texture, and best of all FULLY HARDY. |
RE: How Quercus Fusiformis faired the winter in Pa
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- Posted by j0nd03 7 west/central AR (My Page) on
Sat, Jun 11, 11 at 22:21
| Hate to hear that poaky :( I do think growing one from acorn would be much for likely to succeed if you try again. Also I have read that live oak does sprout vigorously to top damage so maybe some of the roots are alive and might sprout next spring. 5 years from now you will enjoy watching that shingle oak grow so much you won't miss the fusi a bit. Not to mention the constant worry every winter that the fusi would impose on you. |
RE: How Quercus Fusiformis faired the winter in Pa
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| I gave up on it and it turned around and put out 4 leaves from below the spot where I pruned to the bud that was swollen. I am gonna just let it do it's thing and ignore it. The shingle oak is about a foot away from it so if they both do good for several years I'll sacrifice the shingle because I have 3 of them growing in the yard already and the Fusi was semi costly and is sort of rare in Pa. I will wait at least 3 years to decide. |
RE: How Quercus Fusiformis faired the winter in Pa
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The tree is doing good |
RE: How Quercus Fusiformis faired the winter in Pa
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| The bottom leaves are a bit ragged but they are from last year. It lost most of the top it's first winter and has kept the last 2 seasons growth since then. It has put out about 3 inches of new growth this spring. I'm hoping it puts out more, but it is supposed to be a slow grower compared to the coast live oak. I'm happy it looks good even if it is small. |
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