Re: Standard Quercus Ilex

Edward Faridany wrote:
> 
> I have four stems which I wish to try to turn into standard-grown
> trees and would much appreciate advice as to how to accomplish this.
> The stems are about 2.7metres tall with a diam. of 6cms and are
> straight. The top 60cms. or so of the stems have some side shoots
> which are unevenly distributed and these have been pruned back to
> between 4 and 15 cms. from the stem. There is no growth below that
> point. The trees have been imported from Italy [ precise source
> unknown].

I am not sure how long a stem you want on your standards, but just over
2 metres sounds high enough for most purposes, so you seem to have a
good start. Pruning back sideshoots as you describe will tend to cause
them to branch and begin building up a head. To achieve a thick rounded
head, you will need to cut off the tip of the leading shoot when it
reaches about 1 metre above the lowest side branches (If I have
understood correctly, this distance is at present about 60cm) and the
new side branches will also need to be tipped when they have grown two
or three nodes or joints. This tipping can be repeated after each
successive branching until you achieve the size of head you want, after
which a formal standard is usually kept in shape by clipping.

As to side branches, I would expect more to grow anyhow once you cut off
the tip of the leading shoot, but you may also be able to encourage more
to form as you suggest. I know it sometimes works on apple trees and I
don't see why it should not work also in this case. The trick is to take
a sharp knife and make a short cut (about 0.8 cm long)  across the stem
a couple of millimetres above a dormant bud. The cut should go the full
depth of the bark as the idea is to interrupt a part of the sap flow, so
that extra is available to the bud encouraging it to sprout. Be careful
not to get near enough to the bud to damage it.

Moira

Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, 
New Zealand (astride the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
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