Fattening up an Oak sapling...

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
spicerd Baton Rouge, LA(Zone 9a) Sep 05, 2006

Hello All -

I am sorry the picture does not show it more clearly, but I have a small Oak sapling that has gotten VERY tall and has three major branches that are approximately the same size... I have to keep it supported, but was wondering if it is okay to trim back the three branches and try to get the trunk to fatten up and get some support before branching out...

Please let me know the safest way to go about this, as raising this little beauty is a joint project with my kids and therefore very precious to us...

Thanks -

Donald

Thumbnail by spicerd
Post #2692803
Quote
David_Vermont Orwell, VT Sep 05, 2006

Hello Donald,

I'm sure other's will join in but I wouldn't prune it back at all. I would allow this little character to be exposed to the wind and the touch of a child's hand. The exposure to this movement will actually toughen up the seedling. It's also important to have this plant in direct sunlight. As soon as you can I would plant this seedling in the permanent location that it to grow in. Growing trees from seed is a great experience and having children being part of it very rewarding.

David

Post #2693226
Quote
Carter Houston, TX(Zone 9b) Sep 05, 2006

What David said. Being in a pot, it will never get very thick.

Post #2693444
Quote
Resin Northumberland, United Kingdom(Zone 9a) Sep 05, 2006

As above. Don't cut, but do bend it too and fro gently to stimulate stem thickness growth. And give it full sun.

Resin

Post #2693556
Quote
StarhillForest Illinois, IL(Zone 5b) Sep 05, 2006

. . . also, when you take it out of the pot BE SURE to slosh away some of the potting mix, unravel any circling roots, and spread them out like wheel spokes in the (very wide) planting hole, then backfill around them with the crumbled soil you dug out of the hole, not with potting soil or amended soil. It will break your heart if your special tree dies in 15-20 years from girdling roots, as happens with so many pot-grown trees and trees planted in amended backfill.

Don't plant the tree any deeper than it grew in the pot. Mound up a levee around the outside of the planting hole so you can water the tree without all the water running away, remove all weeds and turf from the planting circle, and mulch the area about 2" deep over the entire planting hole and levee (but don't pile the mulch up against the stem). Then, if needed, use a fence made of poultry netting or wire mesh to keep deer and rabbits away.

Guy S.

Post #2693638
Quote
CoreHHI Bluffton, SC(Zone 9a) Sep 05, 2006

Don't prune and get it planted in the ground. It will thicken up fast once it's out of the pot.

Post #2693652
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Trees, Shrubs and Conifers Threads

Go to all Trees, Shrubs and Conifers threads
BACK TO TOP