Spruce Project 2002

jhill

This is one of the blue spruce's that I potted in a training box in spring of 2001 and now is ready for some work. It is about 33" tall now but was reduced from about 4 feet. I did some heavey pruning and bending and placed in a training box and let it grow for 1 season. It seems now that it is healthy enough to continue work on this tree.
John

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This is a nice tree. The problem appears to be at the root base, where if the tree were replanted at an angle appropriate for the root system, the major trunk would be crooked, and the minor trunk would be dead straight.

I see that the planting angle you have chosen is appropriate for the main trunk, but it still leaves this conflict at the roots.

How about using a piece of rebar to straighten the main trunk relative to the roots? It would need to be left in place for a long time, but then the main trunk would be straight and the minor trunk could be tilted off to one side, something like what is shown in the virtual below.

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jhill

Hi Matt,
I like what you did, I like it alot. I am not sure if it is really ready for the rebar bend yet, maybe I will let it go for another season yet and give your virtual a go. I really like it ,Nice eye. When I planted this tree it didn't have a whole lot of feeder roots. I hope that their is this year. I'll do a repot and get some more of the clay soil out of the roots and let go another year.(patience, patience John), , (just talking to myself)Always rushing U know. Well Thanks alot Matt I'll keep you updated.
John

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bheritage

Hi John -- Looking through the posts on spruces (what is the plural for spruce? ..kinda like mooses ), and I was wondering how this one is looking. Can you give us an update? I'm curious because I have started one my self, and I want to see how others are doing with theirs.

Thanks,
Anthony

Vance Wood

A couple of points about Blues. If you don't or didn't have a lot of feeder roots be a bit cautious about doing too much until you are certian the root formations are enough to take to stress. As to the idea of rebar. This is a possibility but you had better make plans for leaving the rebar in place for up to ten years. The reason you do not see too many Blues as bonsai is because they are bloody difficult to train. You can put wire on a branch and leave it in place even till it cuts into the bark. You then remove it and over the period of several weeks the branch will go back to where it was before you touched it. They have to be constantly rewired year after year, some branches may take five or more years to set into position. In my opinion it is this annoying little trait of this tree that would rule out the rebar. All of that being said and you don't mind dealing with a tree with foliage like barbed wire they make wonderful bonsai over time----a lot of time. I have had one in training for about twenty plus years and it still has to be wired.

rowan57

Spruce Plural = Spruce = "A Forest of Spruce trees" "I grow many spruce from seed" etc.

Also, Update?

Rowan

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JR_Roosa

I think it's like fish and fishes.

Many of one kind is written, "I caught ten fish." but many species is written, "Trout and many other freshwater fishes are delicious when grilled."

"The two alberta spruce that I have over-wintered well." versus "I think it's because spruces in general are very cold tolerant."

I just happened on this post looking for info on colorado spruce. Thanks for the training advice, Vance.

-J.

rowan57

Fishes is never the plural of fish, Fish is the plural of fish "I saw a lot of fish today" "There are 1,000,000 species of fish" "Many other freshwater fish are delicious when grilled" Spruces is never the plural of spruce
Regards
Rowan

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In literary and art criticism there are two criteria, the political and the artistic....

Words and actions should help to unite, and not divide, the people of our various nationalities

I often talk to myself because i am the only one who truly understands me.

Causal

Sproyce?