Bald Cypress Propagation

[Trish7359]

I have a lovely Bald Cypress on my property planted beside a pond. It started from a bare root that my son brought home from primary school on Arbor Day. He and I read about them and planted it at the pond. He's grown and gone now and the tree did and is doing fantastic! So, it's sentimental, right? Well, I've needed to move (downsize) for years and the only thing keeping me from it is not wanting to leave that tree. Now the time is at hand and I'd love to take with me a baby from that tree for my new yard. Having read about propagating from the seed cones, today (Nov. 2) I went to harvest and could find NONE! Not on the tree, not on the ground. I'm in Missouri, it's just getting freezing at night time and the needles of the Bald Cypress are orange now and still mostly on the tree. Did I miss my chance? Have the seed cones all fallen and been eaten by the turkeys that are always around because my fool neighbor feeds them? Is there another way to propagate? I have some small branches in water with rooting stuff.... Also dug up some suckers (?) from under the tree and transplanted them.....could those really be baby Bald Cypresses? Or do they not grow that way? I can't tell by the little shoots. Any suggestions or ideas? Many thanks in advance.

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

It sounds like you are short on time but air layering works fairly well on cypress. This probably would be best accomplished in the spring when things start going again (getting a little close to winter).
As for the seeds, I have always seen them in the fall. But they can be sporadic. One year the tree is falling appart due to their weight... the next nothing.
Pictures of you little suckers would be good, give someone a chance to identify them.

Good luck!

 

[evo]

You could always go shot gun. Try seeds, cuttings, and if you can find rootstock grafting too!

 

[jmcscrap]

Are you staying in the same area or moving to a different state? Only reason I ask is that you can always try next spring if you are close. I can't imagine the new homeowner telling you that you can't get some seeds or a few cuttings if you tell them why.

 

[Trish7359]

It sounds like you are short on time but air layering works fairly well on cypress. This probably would be best accomplished in the spring when things start going again (getting a little close to winter).
As for the seeds, I have always seen them in the fall. But they can be sporadic. One year the tree is falling appart due to their weight... the next nothing.
Pictures of you little suckers would be good, give someone a chance to identify them.

Good luck!

Thank you! I didn't have all the particulars on Air-layering so I read up on it. Here are the little suckers. They were growing beside the main tree.

 

[Trish7359]

You could always go shot gun. Try seeds, cuttings, and if you can find rootstock grafting too!

Thank you. That's what I'm trying to do and hoping something works. I appreciate all the good ideas this board brings!

 

[Trish7359]

Are you staying in the same area or moving to a different state? Only reason I ask is that you can always try next spring if you are close. I can't imagine the new homeowner telling you that you can't get some seeds or a few cuttings if you tell them why.

Yes, I'm staying in the same area. I think I'll still be here in this house come spring. I'm doing a new build and that will take about 9 months. I've also considered asking my next door neighbors to sneak over here and look for seeds next fall.

 

[Trish7359]

Thank you so much for your suggestions!! I really appreciate it. What do you all think about trying to move the tree? I know it costs, but that's okay. I'm just worried about the tree making it. I'd hate to lose the tree; would rather have it live away from me than not live at all. It's about 12 ft tall I'd guess.

 

[colb]

If you have money, you can transplant the tree with decent expectation for success, but also the small possibility for failure. I would interview your local *consulting* *bcma* arborist and/or grower to see who is most qualified and has the appropriate equipment. You need to move on this by 1-2 months before ecological spring begins, so start the ball rolling right away if you go this route.

 

[colb]

Thank you so much for your suggestions!! I really appreciate it. What do you all think about trying to move the tree? I know it costs, but that's okay. I'm just worried about the tree making it. I'd hate to lose the tree; would rather have it live away from me than not live at all. It's about 12 ft tall I'd guess.

Additionally, you'll have to protect it during the new home construction. Lot going on here, so keep an active, open line with your consultant.

 

[Trish7359]

If you have money, you can transplant the tree with decent expectation for success, but also the small possibility for failure. I would interview your local *consulting* *bcma* arborist and/or grower to see who is most qualified and has the appropriate equipment. You need to move on this by 1-2 months before ecological spring begins, so start the ball rolling right away if you go this route.

Thank you!! This group is SO helpful!

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

Thank you so much for your suggestions!! I really appreciate it. What do you all think about trying to move the tree? I know it costs, but that's okay. I'm just worried about the tree making it. I'd hate to lose the tree; would rather have it live away from me than not live at all. It's about 12 ft tall I'd guess.

12’ is absolutely transplantable. Depending on caliper (diameter at just above the ground) you might be able to get a large tree spade to move it if you can access it with a truck. If not it might be a little interesting only because of the size root ball that will probably be needed for success.
Where is Lee’s summit located, maybe someone on here can recommend a consultant.

 

[Trish7359]

12’ is absolutely transplantable. Depending on caliper (diameter at just above the ground) you might be able to get a large tree spade to move it if you can access it with a truck. If not it might be a little interesting only because of the size root ball that will probably be needed for success.
Where is Lee’s summit located, maybe someone on here can recommend a consultant.

The caliper is 48 ". I may have underestimated the height. Sorry, I'm not good at that and was trying to imagine how may 6' tall people standing head to toe it would be. Probably more like 18'. Lee's Summit is a suburb of Kansas City. I Googled Consulting BCMA Arborist as Colb suggested and found one current and one former. There are a few more ISA certified ones.

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

The caliper is 48 ". I may have underestimated the height. Sorry, I'm not good at that and was trying to imagine how may 6' tall people standing head to toe it would be. Probably more like 18'. Lee's Summit is a suburb of Kansas City. I Googled Consulting BCMA Arborist as Colb suggested and found one current and one former. There are a few more ISA certified ones.

48” circumference???
Google only works for getting a list of guys that’s do a good job of maintaining a web presence. Go directly to the ISA web site and search from there. You will get everyone that is certified for hire or not and you can just wade through and call a couple individuals.
http://www.isa-arbor.com/findanarbo...icks&utm_medium=homepagebox&utm_campaign=IAmA

You might be missing out on a small company that does good work, but doesn’t have the money or desire to spend time on a web page.

 

[Trish7359]

48” circumference???
Google only works for getting a list of guys that’s do a good job of maintaining a web presence. Go directly to the ISA web site and search from there. You will get everyone that is certified for hire or not and you can just wade through and call a couple individuals.
http://www.isa-arbor.com/findanarbo...icks&utm_medium=homepagebox&utm_campaign=IAmA

You might be missing out on a small company that does good work, but doesn’t have the money or desire to spend time on a web page.

Thank you very much for that link! Yes, there are a few in my town and more at the tree company I use for trimming, treating, and removal - I just didn't know they did that kind of thing as well. You have been most helpful! Thank you for your time and attention!

 

[Trish7359]

Additionally, you'll have to protect it during the new home construction. Lot going on here, so keep an active, open line with your consultant.

Thank you so much for your help and the suggestion of the BCMA arborist which steered me in the right direction. Lo and behold, there are some ISA certified arborists at the company I use for trimming, treating, and removal but I didn't know they did that kind of thing. Thank you again!

 

[cerviarborist]

Thank you so much for your help and the suggestion of the BCMA arborist which steered me in the right direction. Lo and behold, there are some ISA certified arborists at the company I use for trimming, treating, and removal but I didn't know they did that kind of thing. Thank you again!

They may not in fact perform tree moving. It's important that you do your own due diligence to make sure that the arborist you select for the task is indeed an expert in that particular niche. You might ask your current provider whether their palette of service offerings includes preparing trees for removal, transport and transplant, whether they have experience in actual tree excavation and moving services, as well as planting and establishment.....or if they can either collaborate with or refer you to someone in your area who makes a specialty of it.