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Message |
    
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2818
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 9:42 am: | 
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This ornamental shrub has had an explosion of new growth in the last year. We understood it to be a slow-growing species. The new growth is quite different in appearance from the old, and it all comes out of one single giant branch, which is bigger than the original trunk. Could it be that a different type of cypress (juniper? cedar?) has some how highjacked the existing bush?
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Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7306
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 10:56 am: |
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You could have new bush or tree growing in the soil underneath your existing bush. It could have been growing that way for several years even though you have just noticed it now. You will see several examples of what I mean by looking in Memorial Park near Oakview Avenue where there are large trees growing out of much shorter shrubs.
Try examining the new growth and see if the new trunk is coming off of the existing trunk or is separately rooted in the ground. |
Camnol
Citizen
Username: Camnol
Post Number: 308
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 11:21 am: |
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My guess is that your tree is on grafted root stock and that branch is growing from below the graft (hard to tell from the picture). It's common for ornamentals to be grafted to the root stock of a stronger plant. If you get a sucker that comes from below the graft, it will be more vigorous and can take over the plant. An example I see a lot in yards is a weeping cherry tree that has a straight growing sucker that has been allowed to grow from below the graft--so you see a tree that has weeping branches at the bottom, but tall, straight growth at the top.
I would consult with a nursery to see if that is what the issue is. You may have to gradually trim out that branch (I would be worried about shocking the tree if you took it all at once).
Or I could be totally wrong.  |
toad
Citizen
Username: Toad
Post Number: 139
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 12:19 pm: |
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Two distinct plants; Hinoki Cypress and an Arborvitae |
themp
Supporter
Username: Themp
Post Number: 2819
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 23, 2006 - 5:25 pm: |
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Camnol - I think that could be it. Shrub has been in place for quite a while, I think. It is definitely all one plant. I was assuming that somehow a the second one had been seeded in a crack in the bark and grown, but your version makes more sense. Only thing is - this is all coming from one branch (the one that goes to the right and then 90 degrees up in the picture), and I think the "original" type branches grow both above and below this one huge branch. |
Camnol
Citizen
Username: Camnol
Post Number: 309
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 8:44 am: |
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It is very odd, I agree. You are going to have to get rid of that branch, otherwise it will take over the tree. I would take the pictures to a nursery and see what they suggest-- or call the Master Gardener Helpline for Essex county and describe the problem. Someone there could surely help.
http://www.rcre.rutgers.edu/mastergardeners/helplines.asp
Please post the results; I'm really curious! |
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