Help with a new Ginkgo Tree
supermario
14 years ago
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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
14 years agohead_cutter
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Ginkgo Trees
Comments (29)QQ, I was pulling your leg - I wasn't offended so no need to apologize :-) You do make some valid points. I certainly can't speak to the knowledge base of nursery sales staff across the country and no doubt there are nurseries everywhere that have their share of less-than-well-informed employees. The nursery that is referred to in the original post of this thread is a case in point. One thing to consider is that to the customer, anyone working at a nursery is considered by them to be a "plant person" - this includes even the temporary seasonal staff, often high school kids hired to water, stock or run errands and load cars. And I can't tell you how many times I've encountered frustrated customers trying to ask plant questions of our Guatemalan production crew, who barely speak English. As to why don't more nursery employees participate on these forums, I can't answer that question. Maybe they don't care to admit to it, as iVillage does have restrictions regarding business interests and they think that revealing their occupation somehow violates this restriction. Or perhaps it is a time factor. Personally, I am a self-admitted plant geek and reading about, growing and discussing plants absorbs me more than it probably should. I am a bit obsessive about learning about plants and the forums are a constant learning experience for me as well as place to share the modest amount I do know. And the "We don't carry those. They don't grow here." statement is more relevant than you might think. Customers ask for the strangest things and at the oddest times of year (I had someone in looking for basil last week - last frost is not until early May). I might modify that to read "We don't carry those, they tend not to do well in our area", or won't survive the winter, or they're considered invasive or too disease-prone, etc., etc....See MoreGinkgo Rootstock Suckers and growth of tree. (rather long)
Comments (5)Thanks hort, I really appreciate the feedback. If it is incompatibility, then the graft seems likely to eventually fail. I had a matte over around the base, with mulch on top to cut off all light to the rootstock hoping that would curtail suckering...... NOPE! Pulled it up yesterday, and there is a full ring around the base of pale white suckers from the RS looking for a way out to the light. I'm seriously considering allowing one of them to grow at this point and taking my chances on getting a female tree. Even if it turns out to be female, other than my two dwarfs, there are NO other Ginkgo ANYWHERE near, so pollination would not be likely. If I did this, I could leave the current graft in place and keep my female significant other counterpart happy, while something more satisfying came up. I know she likes it even though I'm not so happy. I also thought about trying to find a place for another one. On a side note, do you have an opinion as to which cultivar develops yellow fall color the earliest? I'm subject to early and late freezes in my location, and I'm thinking that an earlier turning selection (if I replace this one) might be a wise consideration. Thanks in advance, Arktrees...See MoreAdvise on growing Ginkgo biloba trees
Comments (1)It's never a good idea to try to put a tree's growth rate into high gear. If they are forced into putting on a lot of vegetative growth, it may be at the expense of root development, insect and disease resistance, cold and heat tolerance, etc. In containers, provide a good fast-draining mix with plenty of bark fines and perlite. Most nursery mixes are bark based. The more porous the planting medium, the faster the root system will develop. Healthy top growth will follow a vigorous root system! Why were you advised to grow your trees in containers rather than planting them? Will they be coming as bareroot plants?...See MoreGinkgo Trees Leaning Due To Wind
Comments (16)Thanks for all the info! To answer the questions.... The root flare is exposed, though wind and rain are always blowing mulch and leaves in that cavity, so I clear it out often. I do keep a good mulch ring around it that makes it look like it has sunk. I will do like Ken said and try digging on the west side and see if I can loosen them enough to straighten them out and stake them, with something gentle on the bark. I'd like to dig them out and see what the root ball looks like, but I'm afraid I'll create a bigger mess for myself as they might be a bit too big to handle once dug up. And now the ground is wet and heavy, too. If they were not doing well, I'd be more tempted to experiment. There is a STOP sign on my corner that also catches the wind and the pole too can be moved back and forth in the e/w directions, but not n/s. Another sign that is oriented differently nearby is solid and can't be moved in any direction. Oh, I do like to dig, and have done plenty of it. I've broken one of these along the way: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000B6Q6BA/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Broken, not just bent. I need to get back to working out more now that I'm confined indoors for winter/darkness. And no, I don't have a snow blower! Thuja is decorative, and may get moved a little next year when I build a proper stairway to replace the concrete eyesore that replaced the original stairs. It doesn't block the windows. I think the growth will still be slow as it doesn't get lots of sun all year facing north. vince...See Moresupermario
14 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
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14 years agolarke
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14 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
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14 years agojefferseed
10 years agomoochinka
10 years agojefferseed
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10 years agoJerry Harder
6 years agoLiz Croom
2 years agotapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
2 years ago
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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)