How to encourage buttresses on Bald Cypress or Dawn Redwood

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
Speilb Greenwell Springs, LA Jan 21, 2014

I love the look of a well Buttressed tree. I was wondering if it was possible to encourage this when planting a seedling. Specifically I was thinking of drilling a hole in a large flat board (2 ft x 2 ft x .5 inch) putting some of the tap root through the hole. The rest of the roots I would spread out over the board and cover with dirt and water frequently. I figure this would cause the tap root to be restricted and eventually die while encouraging the other roots to spread outward over the board causing a well buttressed trunk on a young tree. Using a board would also mean that as it decays it would allow roots to enter and also would hold a little water. Would this work? Are there other ways to developed a buttressed trunk. I will be planting some trees near a pond so they will also have that working for them. Any advice would be much appreciated.

P.S. This is the problem with young people today. They want things like well buttressed trunks on their trees but they are not willing to wait 200+ years to get them.

PSS in regards to Speedybean's comment. Yes, buttressed trunks are species dependent. I am wanting to try this on both a Bald Cypress and a Dawn Redwood (Gold Rush). Both develop buttresses eventually but it takes a while and it does depend on conditions as well. So I would have both elements going for my trees since they will be near the pond and are good species for it. However, I want to speed up the process. I recon my plan will work in the short term for getting a good and shallow root spread and therefore some buttresses. I guess my concern more relating to the long term health of the tree. I am not worried about them blowing down but more so if the wood would cause irritation later on.

This message was edited Jan 21, 2014 3:10 PM

This message was edited Jan 22, 2014 10:22 AM

Post #9752788
Quote
speediebean Somewhere in, MD(Zone 7b) Jan 21, 2014

I, too, love that look, however; is not the root system of a tree species dependent? I mean, you may be able to attain your desired end result in this way, but I'm guessing that it would depend on the species you're growing and the conditions into which you install it.

I apologize that I'm not specifically answering your query directly, but these are just some thoughts that come to mind. I look forward to seeing what others have to say.

Post #9752821
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Ask-a-Dave's-Gardener Threads

Go to all Ask-a-Dave's-Gardener threads
BACK TO TOP