I don't often do this, probably one of the reasons I don't like to prune bushes. I was sitting under a Japanese Maple tree de-weeding a flower bed when I noticed a dead branch in the tree. Since the tree is barely 4 feet tall it was easy to take out my pruners and snip the dead branch......snip.......*#!^%$#......expletive deleted. ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) The tree has had a cursed life living in the vicinity of a large oak tree which during the winter months uses the maple for target practice. Shedding it's unwanted branches, it has three times severed major limbs from the maple. Two leaders and a major side branch have all been sent to the ground as the oak branches break off. Now, enter I with my pruners.......oh well......the severed branch can go on the brush pile or :idea: Into the water!! Has anyone tried to root a maple tree branch before? Jerry
Jerry, unless you have a mist bed and rooting hormone on it, it probably will just wither away in the glass and it is probably too late in the season to try this. The wood is too hard.
Jerry, What do you have to loose....? Get a pot that will fit into a plastic bag that will twistie up over the pot and plant. Plant the little being with good soil in the pot. Water it till it goes pee pee...then place it in a plastic bag and use a twistie tie on top. Make sure there is a good drop of water in the bag from pot run off. Keep it in a very warm place and not in the sun. I keep it in there, once in a while taking it out and cleaning the bag then putting it back in, until I see roots coming out the little holes in the pot. Keep us posted. Barb in Pa. It would be much better if you could go get rooting hormone at the garden center.
That I can do. Question: does rooting hormone ever get old? I have some but it's pedigree is in question......my mother gave it to me.....35 years ago.....just wondering. Jerry
I looked up mist bed. I actually found one.....between the lettuce and parsley in the produce aisle. I don't think I can sneak in a maple tree without being noticed :-( Much less put a 'not for sale' sign on it. A baggie pot is doable. Jerry
I don't know if rooting hormone gets old but mine is probably 7 years old. Next time when you go to a garden center pick up some new stuff. Barb in Pa.
