Ca. Live Oak

TreeBay

It might be worth another try. Maybe with a different oak? Lots of oaks thrive in some of the hottest and driest areas in California.

Regards,

Matt

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bonsaial1

Try a deeper pot! About 40 feet deep. Then you can let that tap root go just like the real thing. Don't forget to place a water source at the bottom of that 40 foot pot so the root has something to shoot for.

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Earl

Matt, you're right. I blamed it on hot and dry but it may be more the 0 degrees in winter and 4500' altitude. Might be worth trying, tho, because it would be more protected than trees in the wild or yards. I know they don't grow here.

Tony

Earl, I don't think it's your temperature range that's the problem. We have simular temps here and have many native and cultivated oaks. It may be the ultraviolet light exposure. I'm not sure if they do or not but you don't normally think of oaks growing at upper evevations.

Tony

Adam

Ripsgreentree, I like the oak, The only thing I noticed, the first branch needing a little shortening,Oldmistercrow already got to so..........

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[Adam]
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Carl_Bergstrom

A thought about Rip's tree and that first branch - I really like deciduous informal uprights with low branches that move quite powerfully upward, rather than horizontally away from the trunk. The first branch is perfect for this!

I'd be curious to hear what people think about branch angle in deciduous trees such as this....

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Earl

Matt has done a lot of virtuals with Maples, having the branches either go up or up in a gentle arc. I think it is the idea you are getting at and I like it, too. It is certainly a more contemporary look, one of shaping in a more natural look instead of making deciduous trees look like formal or informal evergreens.

I have a great potential root over rock Hornbeam. I really studied Walter Pall's spring display here to get some ideas and not only does he tend to do as you but I noticed that on many of his trees he is leaving many small branches, sometimes two or three coming out of the same place on the larger branch, usually all wired to enhance the leaf placement. Certainly not your traditional branch 1, 2, 3, etc.

Now if somebody would just figure out how to turn a 1" trunk into a 3" trunk in one year...