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| I do not know a lot about trees or pruning and have only ever had to plant a handful. My question is will a sapling continue to grow as normal if the leading or main stem has been broken?(there is roughly 1.5ft left of a ~3' sapling SNOW CHERRY TREE) I mainly ask because of the somewhat unique growing habit of Prunus x 'Snofozam' I was thinking that such a break would be detrimental to the aesthetic of the tree as it matures. |
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| Im not sure but I think if you cut it to where it branched, a new one should just pop up and then youll be good to go. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Thu, Oct 18, 12 at 8:29
| first off.. its called the leader ... all trees will replace the leader.. usually with more than one.. and you will have to go back in a year or two.. and reduce to one ... you said: unique growing habit of Prunus x 'Snofozam' I was thinking that such a break would be detrimental to the aesthetic of the tree as it matures. ==>>> as to the aesthetic ... well.. that is subjective ... to you.. and you are in charge of the pruning saw.. and you make it what you want.. your dream.. most likely.. would not be my dream ... so how it all turns out.. usually depends on the owner .. so do NOT presume ... that all those gorgeous specimens you have seen.. have grown that way all by themselves ... there is usually some garden gnome hiding behind the garage [and usually w/o his pants on.. whats that all about.. lol] finally ... to specifically answer your question.. it depends if it is a grafted plant.. and whether the break occurred above or below the graft ... i do not have time to research your named plant .. perhaps others will now offhand .. the understock will NOT perform.. as the named variety ... if grafted.. if you can post a pic... MAYBE we can find the graft.. or the whole issue is moot because is not grafted ... ken |
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- Posted by GardenEcstasy 5a (My Page) on Fri, Oct 19, 12 at 12:50
| Hi ken, I'm sorry I don't have a pic but I am fairly certain that the tree is not grafted. The company I ordered from didn't stake the dormant sapling before shipping and on top of that didn't package it such that it would be protected in any way from being handled roughly which is how it broke. Your response was very helpful and entertaining. Knowing now that the plant will hopefully develop a new leader and not just start branching out and becoming bushy. I will be sure to look out for more than one developing, that is if it survives the winter. |
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- Posted by gardengal48 PNW zone 8 (My Page) on Fri, Oct 19, 12 at 15:04
| I don't think you have anything to worry about - 'Snozofam' doesn't even produce a leader. It is a naturally weeping form and if not staked or trained (or top grafted), it can produce a low, spreading, even groundcovering habit. As Ken alluded - the 'aesthetic' of the tree is your determination to make. If you want a more upright tree, go back to the supplier, explain their shipping errors and demand a replacement. Or, you can attempt to train a more upward growing branch into a trunk 'extension' and allow it to "fountain" from that point. Or just let it go to develop as it will - this may well be more shrub-like than tree-like at this juncture. |
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| Are you sure it wasn't grafted? I relatively certain that most commercially sold Prunus are grafted. A picture would help. |
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- Posted by GardenEcstasy 5a (My Page) on Sun, Oct 21, 12 at 16:28
| Ok, so here are some bad pics. Had to try and stitch several macro together because one from distance did give enough detail, a few are a little blurry. Broken part  Other half |
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- Posted by GardenEcstasy 5a (My Page) on Sun, Oct 21, 12 at 16:31
| Links to view them larger http://www.flickr.com/photos/77214324@N06/8109973739/sizes/k/in/photos tream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/77214324@N06/8109962678/sizes/k/in/photos tream/ |
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- Posted by gardengal48 PNW zone 8 (My Page) on Sun, Oct 21, 12 at 17:36
| Boy, I would be seriously PO'd if I paid good money for a tree and that was what I received. I would contact the supplier ASAP and demand a replacement. Better yet, I'd demand my money back and look for a larger, more mature specimen elsewhere. 'Snozofam' is not an uncommon tree - you should be able to locate one at a local home improvement store in spring, if not at local nursery/garden center. Larger tree for similar price, no shipping charges and you can see exactly what the form and growth habit is. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, Oct 21, 12 at 18:17
| did you get this for a donation to arbor day.... it looks about the level of quality they usually send ... frankly .... it looks dead to me .... if those pix are current ... ken |
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- Posted by GardenEcstasy 5a (My Page) on Sun, Oct 21, 12 at 19:26
| No it was not arbor day but it was cheap so I'm not pissed but it was a letdown when I got it; if it doesn't survive I'll just request another. |
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