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Old 16-Feb-2006   #9
bwaynef
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Join Date: Sep-2004
Location: Upstate South Carolina
Country: USA
Posts: 1,221
I'd say I'm going with the majority ...but I gave my opinion before others reinforced it. The long shoot growth is a product of the tree's will to survive. Any reserves the tree had were pumped into the growth. Energy that would normally just be used for leaves, was directed to growing branches AND leaves. The extra growth of the branches (and probably limited growth of foliage) means that the roots are likely to not have the reserves in them that it appears on the surface.

Consider how your tree would normally grow. Consider how much branch growth in inches you'd get at the end of the branch. Then consider how many leaves that new branch growth takes to support it. I suspect that the growth you got post-chop is a ratio of many more inches-to-leaves.

The length of the shoot isn't necessarily an indication of vigor. Trees often send out long lanky growth because its cheaper. Collected trees really shouldn't be worked w/in a year of collection anyway. Wait. Feed it. Give it adequate lighting (some J. Maples turn crispy. ...Be careful.) Work it next spring.
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