Ais I sent you an email a while back, did you get it?

It's about time GW has zones appearing after our names. I requested they add that as well as soil type a few years back but never heard back from them. Thanks coniflora. For my behalf I had either forgotten a grafted plant kept characteristics (probably slim margins in all cases though, I would have to think) ..easier. Anyway, that's maybe my favorite thing in the world to do. Grafting that is. Dax P.s. And Noki, you pick up the pace real quickly. Just like becoming a BMX racer! And other times, you do have to work with the wood until you're satisfied everything is a go. Some grafts take me 5 minutes each. Those darn ones with the tiny wood are difficult to hold onto as well and that's on top of just the finicky ones in general. Then there's the ones where your blade cuts right through the entire understock! that one tees me off. Then there's the a to the b to c to the d .... you're always adjusting to occomodate. It's a lot of common sense technique-wise it becomes apparent rather fast. And there are no rules if you would please allow me to say when you understand what it's going to take to get those two wounds to ajoin.

In our climate during winter, trees are dormant. If the soil stays above 45F, some root growth may take place. Evergreens, both needle and broadleaf, transpire, that is they lose water from their foliage the year round, and this has to be replaced, even in winter or foliage will dessicate. The metabolic processes that take place during the dormant period rely on stored energy. Come spring, green growth begins, and this relies on stored energy until the foliage is able to photosynthesize and produce energy. The energy produced early in the growing season mostly goes toward the plants metabolic processes, later it is used to replace energy stores. If a plant doesn't receive enough sun during the growing season it will grow poorly, relative to ones receiving adequate sun. It's energy reserves won't be as great. Most woody plants grow best in full sun, a lot tolerate less, and a very few require shade and shelter. The species you want to grow are full sun lovers. They will tolerate less than perfect conditions and thereby be less than perfect specimens, leastwise the way we humans reckon. I'll repeat what I said above, what you propose is eminently doable, I've done the very same thing and I am most satisfied with the results.

Are those the normal species, or a hybrid or ? Because those 3 trees are very atypical of the norm. I’d say train them while young and maybe they will improve. Call me if you want to discuss. My info is on my website. Here is a little about me : Studying and growing the species since 1967. In 1967 I regularly watched and studied one of the first Dawn Redwoods planted in the U S A. Seeds given to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, one of which was planted near my home, in the late 1940’s. Even in 1967 this tree was over 60' even though it hadn't been brought to USA but a couple decades. Since then I have studied and planted many in Tennessee. My biggest DR now approaches 90 feet high and 3 feet dbh. I have five here at my estate Arboretum (www.WhiteHouseArboretum.com). Two are the Goldrush / Ogon types. Give full sun and perimeter room to grow. If growing an individual specimen tree, never trim branches above thigh high. Likes moist well drained soil just like most trees. A slight north slope is loved in Tennessee. My 53 years of records and studies reveal that in TN, on an average to good site, you should expect these growth rates : Year 1 to 15 = 2’ to 3.5’ max per year, Year 16 to 25 = 2’ to 2.5’ max per year, Year 26 to 40 = 1’ to 1.5’ max per year, Year 41 to 60 = 1’ or so per year, Then commensurately lowering for future years. If you push for extreme buttress and distorted base with dominant low limbs, then height growth may be less than I stated in my table. On Dave’s Garden I posted some pics of some of my favorite local middle TN DR's. The big DR that I am standing beside the trunk, was struck by lightning around ten years ago, leaving a scar almost to the ground. But it was not phased at all, and has healed over since and never slowed its growth. Since 2000 it has reproduced numerous progeny throughout the neighboring forest. It is impeccable. I love this prehistoric tree. Tons of Dawn Redwood fossils have been recovered in North America. Known to exist during the dinosaur eras. I recently purchased a fossil DR recovered in USA.