AusBonsai

Quick reminder please? If a juniper has all its foliage cut off can it come back from that? A property owner down the street from me has cut back a prostrate juniper, clearly with the intention of removing it. It has a massive trunk of the likes Kimura would style, but now not a shred of foliage. Worth asking to collect it, to nurse it back to health?

Junipers gain their strength from foliage so it's probably a 50/50 shot in my opinion but I'm not an expert so maybe somebody with more experience could give you a firm answer. Mia


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Very little chance of recovery. but if this trunk is as you describe, definitely worth a try!

Adam

If the stump looks like its great material you have nothing to lose go for it

What are you going to lose?
Time, lack of blisters, no back pain, ect...

What do you gain?
A stump and some knowledge.

Knowledge is priceless if you can put in the time to get it.

hi,

i know i shouldnt post right now regarding other hings but...

Lindsay farr has actually done this with other junipers and has had success, back to nothing but wood. I had a similar thing where i had to cut them back as they were a snake haven and i have kidss etc etc. in saying so the two trees that went back to nothing one survived the other not. if the tree your talking bout doesnt survive still get it as it could be used for deadwood tanuki.

good luck

Check to see if it has buds on the inner branches but if not i would say dont bother

Thanks everyone. That's good advice to look for the buds, bohdi.

Just checked it out again and spoke to a friend of the owner. It's definitely still alive and has a few tufts of foliage left; hard to see buds in the dark, but they'll be there. Fingers crossed now, as I have texted the owner asking for permission.

I haven't tried but I don't fancy your chances. If you do collect it try setting a few lower grafts if the trunk is still green (cambium) under the bark.
Cheers, Dario.

Personally...I would cut it at the base and cut off all remaining branches, and use it as an environmentally friendly light saber for your children. Other than that, I don't like your chances.

My teacher has always pushed to leave some green(even 1 leave) on most conifers when cutting back. With no sap flow you have a decent chance of losing the tree(or even branch, if all foliage is removed from it). On that note tho, you say there is a little green left. I would remove the tree, leaving as much green as possible. Pot it and mist it a couple times a day, or as much as possible. Even if most of the tree dies, and you end up with 1 branch alive and a big (mostly)dead stump, you will end up with a great tree to carve on.
Ryan

Took photos, but no reply from the owner.

Is that still in the ground or already chopped up?