After a little of frustration after finding out they'd pretty much invoked their act-of-god clause at any attempts to warranty trees, I returned home triumphant with two, more sun & heat tolerant trees to replace them.

Now one was a complete loss, but when I dug up the dogwood I noticed that it had some previously unnoticed root suckers. Now, it looks like they're coming from beneath the graft union, so I know I won't be getting the same variety that I paid for, but I figure, I paid for the thing, I might be able to at least make up for some of my loss.

There it is. Now, I cut off most of the old trunk and popped it into the ground as is since there's still a relatively decent root system on it... what is the best way to go about encouraging them to keep growing? Should I dig it back up and trim the rootball back, or leave it as is? Should I cut off the smaller suckers and just leave one, or leave everything so the plant can get the maximum energy while it recovers?

...is this a hopeless effort that I should just give up on? ;p

(and if anyone cares, the new trees; A Black Gum and a 'Butterflies Magnolia', who will hopefully be able to handle the sun & heat a little better)

Its killing me that out of what I planted that's had to go through this heat, a japanese maple is doing the best. its only had a smidgen of twig dieback in the extremities but nothing huge. I've got a tulip tree that lost a lot of canopy that I've got to try to nurse back as well ;_;

Nice choice with the nyssa btw. I have one which suffered terrible winter dieback after transplant a few years back but has looked great this year despite the heat and drought.

+oM

And its good to hear that Nyssas can deal with drought; I'm sick with having to fight with it, I don't want to lose any more plants next year.

i would say it is triggering dormant buds on the trunk of the understock ..

for whatever that is worth ...

this usually happens.. when the part above the graft fails.. so perhaps that will happen next spring .. who knows.. now anyway ...

but my usual caveat.. is that this is the front of what looks like a brand new home.. i would prefer something known.. and thriving in front of my house.. not some weird science.. lets hop it i dont waste 5 years hoping i end up with something good type of project..

perhaps it could be moved out back.. where you can mess with it..

and get something better.. so as to make a real statement about the front view.. of your new castle..

ken