Bald Cypress Repot and Trim

[Mellow Mullet]

I finally got a break and had time to do some repotting, so I tackled this cypress today. It was really in need because I should have done it last spring. Here is the victim:





When it was repotted last, it was flush with the container. I grew so much last summer that it pushed itself up three inches above the original soil line.



Many roots escaping the pot into the water container below.



Some will say that keeping a bald cypress submerged in water is a bad idea. It works for me, it doubled in size last summer. I keep all of my cypress submerged April through November.



Oh, and I chopped the left hand trunk to build some taper. Unfortunately the right hand trunk died, it had slowly declined over the past two years, the plans now are to do some carving and make a jin out of it.

John

 

[Mellow Mullet]

A view of the trunk at the soil line:

 

[Mellow Mullet]

A big root bound mess, but I am happy that it grew so much.



Nothing the sawsall couldn't handle.



Lots of nice feeder roots left.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Back into the container and secured in.



Soil added and ready for another season.

 

[ColinFraser]

Unfortunately the right hand trunk died

Bummer. Do you think that letting the other trunk grow so vigorously and overtopping it may have led to the tree abandoning it?

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I don't know, possibly. It was actually the dominant trunk and I was keeping both semi balanced. A couple years ago it just started to decline and finally completely died.

 

[sikadelic]

Good opportunity for some natural deadwood with the old trunk intact. Looking good!! I'll look forward to more updates.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Thanks, I'll be sure to update.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Update:

Starting to come out nicely, and it looks like I'm getting a bud in the right place for the next section of trunk.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

UPDATE:

Got a chance to do some work on this one yesterday. I thought it would be interesting to show you how much BC can grow in one season. This particular tree was repotted last year, as you can see in the thread, so all of the growth was the result of one season.

Start. The new leader had reached 3 to 4 feet and made a good stab at healing the scar, it will be mostly closed by end of this season.


The trunk had also gained considerable girth.



Roots escaping the "pot", it is just and oil change pan it is growing in.



Lots of nice roots under the hood. If you don't submerge your BC during the growing season, you should try it.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Started combing out and reducing the roots. And this point, I forgot to take pictures, but I eventually potted her up in a round mica pot just a little larger than the original container.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I then started doing a little work on the dead side. I have a die grinder, but no carving bits yet so I had to resort to using the dremel. It was a lot of work, The wood was really hard and dry, which is a good this I suppose, but the bark did not come off easily.



A little wire and some lime sulfur and we are gonna call it a day. The carving is just a first attempt, I do something else with it later. This actually my first time to do anything like this.

 

[rockm]

You need to shorten that jin by 2/3 at least. It is mostly boring and repetitive past the first third and delivers nothing to the tree's image. Break it off and use the splintered remains on the tree as the jin.

 

[ColinFraser]

You need to shorten that jin by 2/3 at least. It is mostly boring and repetitive past the first third and delivers nothing to the tree's image. Break it off and use the splintered remains on the tree as the jin.

Totally agree.

 

[Cadillactaste]

You need to shorten that jin by 2/3 at least. It is mostly boring and repetitive past the first third and delivers nothing to the tree's image. Break it off and use the splintered remains on the tree as the jin.

My assumption was...that other side is going to become a much larger tree. That may have played into its size. You're seeing the now...Where he's seeing the later image in his head? We shall see how he responds...

 

[Giga]

You need to shorten that jin by 2/3 at least. It is mostly boring and repetitive past the first third and delivers nothing to the tree's image. Break it off and use the splintered remains on the tree as the jin.

This!

 

[ColinFraser]

My assumption was...that other side is going to become a much larger tree. That may have played into its size.

. . . not if it's already being chopped for taper and wired - the trunk diameter wouldn't support it being too much taller anyway.

 

[rockm]

If the aim is to grow out a larger tree on the other side, the grower is prolonging that process by years by cutting it back and containerizing it. If not the jin is simply too long and the carving isn't making it any more natural looking. Removing most of it (and hollowing out the shattered stump into a weathered old jin) will do wonders for the final image.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Ok, guys, I said somewhere in there that it needed more work, gotta get some more tools. The Dremel was no match for this. After it gets some more height, which won'the take years, I plan to shorten/ carve, do away with it, or keep it. I am open to all suggestions, that is why I posted it.

Thanks

 

[ColinFraser]

. . . gotta get some more tools. The Dremel was no match for this. After it gets some more height, which won'the take years, I plan to shorten/ carve, do away with it, or keep it . . .

I would skip the power tools - just grab it just over halfway up (with your hand or pliers), snap it, and tear it downward. Then peel it a bit with pliers, and you should get a more natural look . . .