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| How can I correct the growth of these young redwood trees so they continue to grow an upward trunk, instead of just branching off? Are scions an option? If tops are broken off, how can I encourage a leader to dominate?
Thanks! JLFord |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Fri, Nov 2, 12 at 18:20
| I'm not seeing them, JLFord, but redwoods and most conifers for that matter are pretty good at forming a new leader. The key is patience on your part. You can hardly help this happen but you can do damage in the attempt! +oM |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Fri, Nov 2, 12 at 18:37
| step away.. and ignore them for 2 years.. then reduce to one.. and step away again.. as +om noted.. they do things in their own time... and they are much better at it.. than you will ever be ... soooo .. how did you break a bunch of them off.. lol .. been there.. done that ... pix might change my mind ... ken |
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- Posted by Denver_Designer none (My Page) on Fri, Nov 2, 12 at 18:50
| I've heard of taking one of the top side branches and tying it so that it starts growing straight up and becomes a new leader. |
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- Posted by wisconsitom 4/5 WI (My Page) on Fri, Nov 2, 12 at 21:18
| Yeah, you can do that^ but IMO, better to let the tree sort itself out. You might, as Ken said, want to prune one or more of them back, or away entirely, but this too after the tree has begun its own correction. +oM |
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| Due to what appears to be an inability to get enough water above a certain height during dry periods a recurring dying back and re-growing of lead shoots has been seen among the tallest surviving wild coast redwoods. If otherwise in normal condition (and not in a state of decline) your young trees should be able to grow new tops just fine. |
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| Follow Ken's advice... particularly the part about ignoring them for 2 years. Avoid the temptation to do something until then. |
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- Posted by formandfoliage 9b (Sunset zone 15) (My Page) on Sat, Nov 3, 12 at 8:34
| Crows sit in the tops of the large redwoods around here and break the leaders off. They all eventually form new ones (for the crows to come back and destroy again!) They have a slightly irregular look but it is not pronounced. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sat, Nov 3, 12 at 9:28
| yeah.. i gotta admit.. i have screwed up more things.. TRYING to fix them fast.. than i ever really fixed .. hence the theory of letting the darn tree take care of it in its own time.. lol ... for me.. its the darn robins sitting on tip of pungens.. destroying the terminal bud .. idiots... and then there are 2 or 3 leaders.. so i figure.. i can snip excess out.. but they are still tender.. and i end up breaking them all off.. oh the horror.. lol.. yet two years later.. snip .. snip.. all set ... [of course.. that only happened once.. lol] relax.. trees have been coping for millions of years.. they are in no hurry.. so if you can just leave them be.. they will usually get it right ... and you can bat cleanup if something needs perfecting later ... ken |
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