We dont take our tree down till Jan6, and have noticed quite a difference in needle retention over the years (have cut own trees here since 1967).
We plant and cut our own trees out of the 'backyard' in Western WA, usually D Fir, but have used giant sequoia, mountain fir, or Japenese black pine.
My questions are specifically about D. Fir., and some observation one of you may be able to explain in detail.
To remove the obvious commercial variables, all our trees were cut and moved indoors the same day, transported less than 500 feet, all kept watered, all with double 45 degree trunk cuts for maximum water retention, etc.
A.
Have transplanted 6 to 8 ft DFir trees into a 18 inch deep pot 2 ft across a number of times (with front loader, so minimum roots cut, but packed into thepot). Every transplanted tree has died (only transplanted once) the SECOND year after being in the house for 3 weeks. Have not tried for over 5 years to do this approach. These trees did not drop but a few needles.
Query - what is the mechanism or stress on the tree that causes the 2nd year death, the entire first summer after transplanting back outdoors (proper root packing, etc) the trees looked healthy.
B.
Cut D Fir have a great variability in needle retention. This year the tree did not drop a single needle! Recall that in 1993, we put up TWO trees as they got so brittle fast. One difference, other than weather, was that the tree this year was the top 8 feet of a 20 foot tree, 8" DBH. The 1993 tree was a 8 ft tree. These 2 grew within 100 ft of each other. This year it was an unseasonable (for here) 22F and dry a couple of mornings before we cut the tree, in 1993 (according to NOAA data) it was warmer and raining in the low 40s in December, but September was the record LOW sept. precipitation month. The tree this year was all natural growth, the 1993 tree had been given the std. Christmas tree pruning for a few prior years.
Any insights to these observations would be appreciated.
BTW, the giant sequoia and mountain fir never had a needle problem, the Japenese black pine was a disaster as a Christmas tree, never tried one again.
We plant and cut our own trees out of the 'backyard' in Western WA, usually D Fir, but have used giant sequoia, mountain fir, or Japenese black pine.
My questions are specifically about D. Fir., and some observation one of you may be able to explain in detail.
To remove the obvious commercial variables, all our trees were cut and moved indoors the same day, transported less than 500 feet, all kept watered, all with double 45 degree trunk cuts for maximum water retention, etc.
A.
Have transplanted 6 to 8 ft DFir trees into a 18 inch deep pot 2 ft across a number of times (with front loader, so minimum roots cut, but packed into thepot). Every transplanted tree has died (only transplanted once) the SECOND year after being in the house for 3 weeks. Have not tried for over 5 years to do this approach. These trees did not drop but a few needles.
Query - what is the mechanism or stress on the tree that causes the 2nd year death, the entire first summer after transplanting back outdoors (proper root packing, etc) the trees looked healthy.
B.
Cut D Fir have a great variability in needle retention. This year the tree did not drop a single needle! Recall that in 1993, we put up TWO trees as they got so brittle fast. One difference, other than weather, was that the tree this year was the top 8 feet of a 20 foot tree, 8" DBH. The 1993 tree was a 8 ft tree. These 2 grew within 100 ft of each other. This year it was an unseasonable (for here) 22F and dry a couple of mornings before we cut the tree, in 1993 (according to NOAA data) it was warmer and raining in the low 40s in December, but September was the record LOW sept. precipitation month. The tree this year was all natural growth, the 1993 tree had been given the std. Christmas tree pruning for a few prior years.
Any insights to these observations would be appreciated.
BTW, the giant sequoia and mountain fir never had a needle problem, the Japenese black pine was a disaster as a Christmas tree, never tried one again.
