virginia fringe tree

11 years ago

Hi again, I now have 2 fringe trees (should be opposite sexes) in pots, the only good thing about potting them up (root rot starting) was I got to fix the awful girlded roots more, took forever... see if they live.. till ground...

My one, was purchased in poor shape (my fault) and it's thus died back by 2/3, but I'm trying... the other is much taller, needing to get some of those roots back, but it's branches are all tangled and ..congested... I hear that people should thin for air circulation but I don't know

1) if it's best to wait till it's dormant, as it needs it's leaves (in whatever shape) for root growing) or 2) if it's the nature of the tree, or 3) some will die, break naturally in wind, storm, shock

I'm waiting for the transplant shock, a few branches have what look like cankers, should I leave alone unless the branch above or below starts to really look bad? Or prune out in winter? Maybe it's the nature of the tree?

My other one, is small and self pruned (dieback) enough that I just wonder if it will ever grow enough to not look deformed, they grow slowly I hear...

Traditionally best as understory tree or with wind protection, I don't think I have a good place for either...too tall and wide for my power lines, (most of front yard, I swear only 11 feet up)... roots grow down deep like nuts...

Do any of you have one, more completly exposed

(no wind protection)? Any pictures to post?

Amy

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Comments (7)

bengz6westmd
11 years ago
Bought 3 from Forestfarm 9 seasons ago & planted in exposed wind & quite a bit of shade from a towering sycamore. What surprised me was that they suffer from winter-kill a fair bit. Last winter was mild & the first yr there was no winter-kill of stems/branches. From the yearly winter "trimming" they are decided, multi-stemmed shrubs, but still handsome. All are only 6-7' ft tall now, so pretty slow.
botann
11 years ago
One big disadvantage they have is that they leaf our real late in the Spring here. People ask me if it's dead when a lot of Spring plants are blooming. The Fall color and branching pattern is nothing to brag about.
Mine doesn't get enough light for good blooming. It's rather sparse in that department. It is located in a protected spot with very little wind.
Mike
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jeff_al
11 years ago
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this one is about 20 years old in these photos. planted as a 2-footer in the late 80's. now at about 16'-18' tall and wider than that.
it wants to be a multi-stemmed shrubby tree but looks best with some pruning. full sun will produce a better floral display, much like the american dogwood.
it has a tendency to grow many internal, crossing branches, looking like a congested mess. those are easily pruned out. some years, fall color is fair. i do like the winter silhouette
greyandamy
Original Author
11 years ago
GORGEOUS!!!!!!!! My problem, big problem, is basically my whole yard is taken up with issues (old, existing, etc) of phytoria (spelling??) root rot... It's hard to believe, but the yard is small overall with big sick trees in back with shallow roots, or old dead roots.

An arborist told me I could plant anything anywhere, forget the roots, I improved drainage, still, disturbing the soil, or just having it everywhere, literally... both fringes started to get it... they are in pots, but can't stay indefinitely and one I don't know about, both actually.. plus, they get such deep deep roots I've read that you can't plant them near any sources of old roots (in soil, that's everywhere) or they will succumb to the disease.. thus I'm very sad.. have same issue with mult. other trees...I honestly may have a yard with nothing..They are gorgeous...

Amy
botann
11 years ago
Jeff, I'm impressed! Your tree looks way better than mine.....by far. I can see mine needs a lot more sun. That's something I can't provide due to other trees all around it.
I'd get a picture today but my wife is nagging me to get ready for an appointment. ;-)
Maybe later.
Thanks again for the very good year 'round pictures.
Mike
greyandamy
Original Author
11 years ago
IS the base of your fringe (right above root flare) all wierd and knobby? I can't do pictures, I'm tempted to get that arborist back in... seven sons is like that too..
trying to find the flares on both fringes was an issue, it doesn't seem to have a real one.. now there's a small hole in one base (from the potential rot) and I'm not sure how it will heal... I tried looking at bases earlier in garden centers but forget...
AMY
greyandamy
Original Author
11 years ago
JEff,another question, my two were potted up in desperqtion qnd needing in ground soon, one, the one that died back by at least 1/4 and is so mishapen. The second, bigger one, really needs put in, I'm afraid to wait till dormant, but it's leaves are looking like your photo in 3rd down, kind. There's also some brown leaves and tip scorch (obviously, it didn't want to be moved but it was dying... but is it normal for the brown/yellow leaves of these? what kind of soil do you have yours in? Do you water alot?

Amy