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Pruning and repotting coast live oak

March 5, 2023 by Jonas Dupuich

I thought I was in for a simple before and after post about a coast live oak until I began the root work.

Before pruning

Live oak before pruning

After pruning

Live oak after pruning

After removing a few large roots, I found a pocket of old soil.

Old soil

Old soil

Curious about where this would lead, I began picking at the old soil until most of the rootball had come undone.

After removing the old soil

After removing the old soil

For those who have repotted old live oaks, you’ll understand when I mention that the compacted soil of black organic material and sand was as tough as concrete. After removing a few more large roots and picking at the soil for two hours, I was ready to put the tree back in a pot.

Root work complete

Root work complete

Instead of returning it to a bonsai pot, I opted to use a large training pot to give the roots lots of space to grow.

After repotting

After repotting, 20″ tall

I don’t know how the tree will respond to this work, but since it has been relatively weak for the past three years, I thought it’d be worth a try. Will report back when I know more.

News & Updates

  • Preparations for the 2023 US National Bonsai Exhibition are on now! We’re looking for drivers willing to bring trees from California to Rochester, New York, for the September exhibition (learn about the event here). I can help coordinate but I won’t be able to make the drive this year.
  • I’m looking for someone in the East Bay to help with watering this summer. If you’re interested in helping out when I’m away or unable to water, feel free to let me know!
  • Client trees for sale including bougainvillea, coast redwood, and potato vine bonsai are available for local pickup in Fremont, California. This is a unique opportunity to pick up colorful specimens with substantial trunks!
Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea

Potato vine

Potato vine

Call or write me for the seller’s contact info.

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Filed Under: Bonsai Development Tagged With: Coast Live Oak

Previous Post: « February News and Updates
Next Post: Three repotting tips »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kevin says

    March 6, 2023 at 7:59 am

    Keep us posted.
    Oaks here in the east coast zone 7 bud out and drop leaves about a month after the rest of the deciduous trees. Specifically the Quercus Nigra. (Red Oak / Water Oak)
    Should I assume the normal timing of procedures just retarded the month?
    Thanks for your help

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      March 6, 2023 at 11:03 am

      Sounds like cork oaks – they’re usually a month or two behind the live oaks. I don’t know anything about q. nigra, but I generally try to repot as soon as I see signs of growth in spring.

  2. Alessandro says

    March 6, 2023 at 11:12 am

    Maybe we (you) can justify the weakness of the tree because of the old soil suffocating the roots?
    Thanks as always for sharing!

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      March 6, 2023 at 11:35 am

      Thanks, Alessandro! That’s my guess. If removing old soil isn’t enough, I’ll try treating for foliar or root pathogens.

  3. jean-yves Guilard says

    March 7, 2023 at 9:59 am

    essai

  4. GIORGIO RANIERO says

    March 12, 2023 at 3:44 am

    Solo una visione estetica personale: se la pianta fosse mia eliminerei la forcella a “V ” in alto togliendo la parte sinistra ed il grosso moncone alla parte destra del tronco centrale. Ciò contribuirebbe a creare un eretto formale molto più bello.
    Grazie per l’attenzione.

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      March 12, 2023 at 9:26 am

      Thanks, Giorgio! I have several oaks with a central leader as you describe so for now I’m training this tree to grow more in the shape of an oak. If I change my mind down the road and want the tree to look more like a bonsai I think removing the left side would be a great way to go. Will see how I feel about it next year!

  5. Sebastian Fraye says

    March 13, 2023 at 7:45 am

    Great post and always interested in your oak progression, my question is what made you determine the health of the oak was poor? Did you have signs of fungal issues on the leaves or was growth not as vigorous as others? Curious because your first photo looks like the growth it put on from last year was not bad. Also what has been your experience when doing a repot and pruning at the same time, do you think live oaks in general can respond well after this work? Thank you!

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      March 13, 2023 at 11:08 am

      Hi Sebastian – Good guess! There were deformed leaves with spots and growth was less vigorous than expected for the past few years. (The photo, for example, shows two years of growth.)

      As for repotting and pruning at the same time, I haven’t worked on enough oaks to know if there’s a consistent result. I may have pruned less had I known how much root work I’d be doing, but I also know that I’ve pruned and repotted at the same time before with good results. Will see what happens this year and take that as another data point. Thanks!

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