JWP Catherine Elizabeth project

[Mike132327]

Hi all,

I just picked up a few pine trees at a local nursery (zone 7B) first of which is a Pinus Parviflora Catherine Elizabeth. I think the trunk had some nice movement and very nice small foliage. It has a pretty thick trunk almost 4 inches at the base and tapers pretty nicely. I am planning to repot into a shallower clay pot in the spring. This is my first white pine and I have read through many threads here about them (still trying to get my feet under me with all the info, so trying to get some clarity based on where I am at in the process).

I am happy with the thickness of the trunk and I believe I can start refining the tree. From what I gathered I should half bare root it during this potting. Give it a year to recover and if growth is good and the tree is healthy HBR the other side. Is there anything during this process I should be weary of, and any other maintenance I should be doing while the tree is in recovery.

Thank you in advance for anyone who takes the time to respond, and i will be trying to keep an updated thread for this trees progress. Have a great day.

 

[RaginCajun]

Dang! I wish we had nursery material like that locally! That tree is super healthy!
I’d clean it up and wire it.. leave it in the nursery pot and learn how to take care of it.
That’s awesome! Nice score

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Good luck on your new tree!

Looking forward to seeing what can be done with this tree.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[baldone]

Nice find

 

[penumbra]

Is there a significant swelling at the graft?

 

[Mike132327]

Dang! I wish we had nursery material like that locally! That tree is super healthy!
I’d clean it up and wire it.. leave it in the nursery pot and learn how to take care of it.
That’s awesome! Nice score

Thank you my man I appreciate the advice, I got a pretty sweet Scot’s pine at the same time and I think I’m going to go this route for both.

I was really surprised on this one definitely not what I was expecting to be going home with, a very pleasant surprise!

 

[Mike132327]

Is there a significant swelling at the graft?

Not really there’s a whorl of branches right above it and it pretty much made a smooth transition. There’s also a knuckle like exposed root that adds about half an inch to the measurement. I can try to get some better pics when I get home.

 

[Mike132327]

Today I trimmed some unnecessary branches and wired her up for shape. I kept a good amount of green to help with recovery. I wanted an asymmetrical shape with the left side pads starting lower than right. I believe this front shows off the movement in the trunk and when it grows in I think the pads that cut in front of the trunk will add more depth.

I am not settled on the apex yet, I removed the competing apex that was on the back of the tree. I cleaned up the one remaining but didn’t really do much else. I suspect I will be taking it down a touch in the future. Currently it is 27” from top of pot.


I need to find a white background to get better pics, but I think it came out pretty solidly for my first structure setting on a pine. It’s not getting into the kokufu this year but I definitely think I could have botched it way worse.

Any constructive thoughts are very welcome!

 

[SgtPilko]

Hi Mike, have you explored under the needle litter and top layer of soil to see what the base is like, where it is etc? Before starting to style you really need to decide on the best front, so best combo of nebari, taper, movement, branching and any cool features. Re. your proposed repotting, the usual advice is "1 insult per year" so that means ideally no repot if you prune and wire. You could try and impart more branch movement with your wire, they all look quite straight. Nice find!

 

[Mike132327]

Hi Mike, have you explored under the needle litter and top layer of soil to see what the base is like, where it is etc? Before starting to style you really need to decide on the best front, so best combo of nebari, taper, movement, branching and any cool features. Re. your proposed repotting, the usual advice is "1 insult per year" so that means ideally no repot if you prune and wire. You could try and impart more branch movement with your wire, they all look quite straight. Nice find!

I had taken off the dead needles and picked away at the top of the soil a bit. I haven’t really dug in to much as I didn’t want to disturb the roots to much. There wasn’t much in terms of nebari currently. The front I chose was the second best angle of the base and by far the best angle for the taper and movement in the trunk. Unfortunately the side of the best base completely hid all movement so I opted for the second best option.

I tried to get some better pictures of the movement I added with the wire, the first pictures did no justice. I was a bit hesitant to try to set any harder angles as I didn’t want to snap any branches. I have some guy wires on it and I figured I could keep tightening them slowly to add more shape.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[Mike132327]

Hi Mike, have you explored under the needle litter and top layer of soil to see what the base is like, where it is etc? Before starting to style you really need to decide on the best front, so best combo of nebari, taper, movement, branching and any cool features. Re. your proposed repotting, the usual advice is "1 insult per year" so that means ideally no repot if you prune and wire. You could try and impart more branch movement with your wire, they all look quite straight. Nice find!

Also yes the repot has been moved to next year, with a healthy recovery. Much appreciate you looking out.

 

[bnw]

Beautiful tree - nice find and first styling.

 

[Japonicus]

This tree healthy as it is,
is really open for Catherine Elizabeth.
Catherine Elizabeth is a dwarf that grows very dense and I've not had
a single one live that I've touched, with a reserved approach (slow to carry out tasks).

 

[Japonicus]

Catherine Elizabeth
This was my 1st. This was the extent of the work done in Fall. Minimal cut backs, minimal wiring.
Other parviflora do fine for me but not this cultivar. Doesn't matter if I work roots or foliage 2st,
both approaches end up toast here for me.
BTW the one here is in a 3 gallon pot and much shorter in stature, though it was grown for landscape.
Best of luck.

 

[Mike132327]

View attachment 583105
Catherine Elizabeth
This was my 1st. This was the extent of the work done in Fall. Minimal cut backs, minimal wiring.
Other parviflora do fine for me but not this cultivar. Doesn't matter if I work roots or foliage 2st,
both approaches end up toast here for me.
BTW the one here is in a 3 gallon pot and much shorter in stature, though it was grown for landscape.
Best of luck.

After buying the tree I ended up finding all of your threads on the cultivar, and I have to say they were in the back of my mind the whole time working on it lol. I’m hoping to defy the odds with this one.

 

[Paradox]

That is an excellent find for a nursery tree.

Its hard to give you the best advice without knowing where in the world you are.
Please put your city, state, province, etc on your profile. It will help us help you better.

 

[Mike132327]

That is an excellent find for a nursery tree.

Its hard to give you the best advice without knowing where in the world you are.
Please put your city, state, province, etc on your profile. It will help us help you better

I have updated my profile, sorry I am in Long Island zone 7B. I found this one right out of the gate and wouldn’t put it down the rest of the time there lol very lucky snag.

 

[Mike132327]

View attachment 583105
Catherine Elizabeth
This was my 1st. This was the extent of the work done in Fall. Minimal cut backs, minimal wiring.
Other parviflora do fine for me but not this cultivar. Doesn't matter if I work roots or foliage 2st,
both approaches end up toast here for me.
BTW the one here is in a 3 gallon pot and much shorter in stature, though it was grown for landscape.
Best of luck.

What kind of soil did you have your trees in?

 

[Japonicus]

What kind of soil did you have your trees in?

Foliage work 1st was in organic nursery soil.
Roots 1st I began transition to Boon mix.

 

[Paradox]

I have updated my profile, sorry I am in Long Island zone 7B. I found this one right out of the gate and wouldn’t put it down the rest of the time there lol very lucky snag.

Ok so you have probably until the middle of March to safely wire some shape into those branches.

May I ask what nursery you found this tree at? I am also on Long Island and finding good material at nurseries is difficult.
Be nice to know of another place with a chance to find good stuff. Thanks