Spotting young trees

[snowmm]

I have not tried to propagate dogwood...I haven't had a dogwood on my property since I moved in 1995. (Can't believe it's been that long.)

That would be really great if I could get some dogwoods.

I have never tried e-bay.com. My husband loves the site and every time I see him on it I know it's going to cost BIG money...so I stay away...cause I too could spend BIG money...on plants. I will check it out though - thanks.

I am also looking into buying some seeds...but haven't ordered any yet. Have you had any luck with seeds for dogwoods?

[cheezyrat]

I have never tried growing dogwood from seed. They just grow everywhere around here naturally. I guess the birds are spreading them.
I'll have to do some reading and check with some friends in the business and see what they say is the easiest way to get dogwood cuttings to root. Or if it is simply better to start from seed. I have never thought to collect any seeds from the dogwoods here. I guess I should try that and share them with everyone else.

[ok_nurse]

The trick is to get the twig at the right time of year. A week can make a big difference. For instance, I cut some forsythia a couple weeks ago and last week I thought I'd push my luck and pull some more. The older ones sprouted leaves and are doing fine. The ones I pulled last week sprouted flowers-darn. They will use all there strength on the flowers and die. Now if I wait until after they flower on the bush, I will get another chance to pull them so they will grow leaves and root. Even though forsythia grows like a weed and other trees don't, the timing is what is important. Redwood will flower so be sure not to pull it when you will sap its strength. Id try pulling it at the first sign of it coming out of dormancy and then again after it flowers. Slow growing trees will take longer to root-if they are going to root at all. I find most people give up when they look at a twig in water for a month or two and don't have any more patience. If the twig gets mold-its dead. Otherwise leave it in. Just pull a big enough twig to snap off little pieces when your questioning if its alive or dead in a month when you don't see anything. Make sure the root is branched and don't snap the distal (furthest from the trunk) end of one branch because some trees need to have that end on to root. You can't take a big twig off most trees and snap it into five small twigs and root them all. At least with most trees. Its worth a try. Good luck!

[cheezyrat]

So with the Flowering Dogwood should I wait until after they have flowered and are beginning to sprout leaves? Right now they are in all budded out and should be ready to flower soon. If I bring them in now I would guess that those flowers will open right away in the warmth and light and then the branch would die.

[bgchavis]

I got some willow branches from my in-laws property last year. I put them into a 5 gallon bucket, and keep it full of water. Any branches I want to root, i cut and stick into the bucket with the willows. I leave them for about a week in there, then put them in pots, to root. I never have to use any other rooting hormone for them, and they just take off.
I need to plant the willows, I know, but they are happily growing in the bucket still, even over the winter.

I plan to plant them next week, and take a few more branches of willow to put back into my "rooting bucket".
I have dogwood and crype myrtle here also. I will try to root some, and see how it goes, and let ya'll know.
Brenda

[snowmm]

That is too funny and too easy...5 gallon buckets...we use the kitty litter leftover buckets. I have about 6 of them throughout the yard all of them doing something different but I don't think rooting trees is one of them.

Please keep me/us posted about the dogwood and crepe myrtle. I was collecting seed from three different sources of crepe myrtle today. Not sure they will work but the only thing I have to lose is a little of my time and some paper towels...I can even recycle the plastic baggies I'll put them in. If the paper towel method doesn't work I can then try the pellet method. I'll let you know what works.

[ok_nurse]

That is the question. I take branches as soon as they don't appear dormant. If they flower in the water when you've cut them-you waited too long and they probably won't grow leaves-there just isn't enough strength to grow after flowering. Sometimes you can "catch" it before it flowers and those are the strongest cuttings. I would cut some twigs and see what sprouts-leaves or flowers. If leaves-good. If flowers-leave them in the water and cut more twigs after the bush outside is just starting to shed its flowers-then cut some more. Put in a different vase and see which one lives. Both will usually look deader than a doorknob for weeks on the slow growing trees. Don't throw them out until there is mold in the water. Just put it aside and forget about it. Add water as needed and leave it. Ive had some amazing results on bushes and trees I never thought would root.
Good luck
-Donna

[bgchavis]

Thanks Donna, I'll try that, in combo with the willow bucket. Have you ever tried pinching the flowers off, so they don't use the energy? Not sure if that would work, but I will try it too.
I have always just cut flowers off of my rosed to root them, but that may be the difference of the ones I get that don't take.
Brenda

[ok_nurse]

I just learn by trial and error. I'll try to grow anything because I like the thrill. Its the mild excitement in life that attracts me. (I get tired of the life altering stress!) I'll have to try it too. I know that some won't work that way cause the buds will either turn into the leaves you want or the flowers you don't depending on when you pull the twig from the bush. It gives me one more thing to experiment with! Thanks!
-Donna

[dirtyfingernails]

Does anyone have some crabapple seeds to share? I would like white,pink and red.I had a mess of them that I grew from seed up in the northeast,and I'm sure they would grow here in zone 8a also.
I've got my fingers crossed,
Bill

[PlantSwap]

I've got a small crabapple tree in my yard, but it has never produced fruit as of yet. Of couse, it is grafted, so I'm not sure how the variety would do from seed in a similar climate.

[dirtyfingernails]

plantswap,
The fruit most likely would'nt be the same as the mother tree because of pollination. That is one of the best parts of it.It makes it very interesting when you get the first flowers.It all depends on the dominent gene.However the trees are usually a small landscape size and very pretty when in flower.
I asked for a variety of colors for this same reason.
I am also looking for rhubarb seed. I planted four roots last year from a nursery,but they received too much sun where I planted them,and failed.With seed starts I can try different places to find an area they would like. Buying roots would just be too expensive for a trial and error.Rhubarb is very hard to find and grow in zone 8a.
Happy gardening,
Bill

[snowmm]

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have seedlings from the Crepe Myrtle seeds that I put between paper towels March 8th, they were growing into the paper towels Thursday night, March 20th, when I checked them. I had six sprouting. I don't remember how many pods I was trying to get them to start from. Who cares. I was just so excited that I had six started.

As for the seeds in the pellets. I started those on March 11th and the first seedling I saw was on Thursday, March 20th, as well.

Now I just have to make sure I don't kill the seedlings.

[bgchavis]

OH that is great news!!
I have 2 of those myrtles here that are over 50 years old... and big trees now.
I pull up seedlings in the yard alot. I will start potting them up for anyone who wants them.
Now I know I can save the seeds to send too!!

Mine are the dark pink ones.

If anyone who is waiting on a package from me, wants me to tuck in a few of these also, let me know.

Brenda

[Dustbunny]

I also have weakness for trees.

Mine keep passing away, or I mow them down with the rider..

I keep buying a few will live..

I bought some evergreens ( blue & norway spruce) I was out in the yard, this week, and I found one out of the ground laying next to the hole I dug for it in the fall... I am puzzled over that one,

I jsut keep buying & planting..
I should say I do tend to buy the 6" trees.. sometimes I get a brake and they send me a 1 or 2 foot one.

One day, (when I am 70) I will have shade and windbrakes.