Advice for selecting memorial tree

[GrubbyGreen]

Hi All,

First posting. I'm wanting a memorial tree, something that woul blossom in late january. It would need to stay in a pot for a year o two as we may move. I was told to get a small prunus but various garde centres have since told me that I won't get one to flower at that time However I do remember seeing on in tescos around that time. I jus didn't want to buy a memorial tree in a supermarket. Now I wish I had

Any advice on what to get?

Where to get it? (I live in Ireland, would be happy to get it mai order). Am I too late to buy one this year. I would be happy to trave to a wholesaler to pick one up.

Thanks

[symplastless]

Ideas I do have. I am sorry to hear of the passing. I would want to correctly plant the tree when you find it. In USA its hard to get good quality trees from nurseries because there is no demand. people take whatever they can get and plant it good and deep and pile mulch up on the trunk and improperly prune them and the list goes on and on. There are some good people out there. I would like to share what I have to share with you regarding correct treatments. The sad thing is people in USA plant memorial trees incorrectly, and then when the energy reserves are reduced secondaries like insects show up then they blame them for killing the tree. It gets nasty. I would like to see you plant this tree when you get it correctly. That is why I am sending these links. I was teaching a six grade class about tree basics in full auditorium when I said people plant these trees in memory and they die. A laughter started as a little voice assertively shouted "that's not funny". GOD bless that child because that child is correct!

When you find your tree, correct correct correct correct - planting, mulching, fertilizing, pruning and such might be important to you. It is to me and the trees. Also you should be able to get a copy of MODERN ARBORICULTURE in Ireland.

I would be willing to donate a copy of TREE BASICS and a copy of PRUNING BASICS by Dr. Shigo to your memory. Please send me your address at [e-mail] and I will send you one of each. Let me know who you are. It would be nice if they stayed with the tree as it grows and was available to people who care for it for many years to come. It is handy and lucid.

Planting

Mulching -

Pruning

Fertilization (See A Touch of Chemistry)

And I will just through these in. Tree Farming and Related Problems

Troubles in the Rhizosphere

Sincerely, John A. Keslick, Jr. Consulting Tree Biologist

Beware of so-called tree experts who do not understand tree biology. Storms, fires, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions keep reminding us that we are not the boss.

[symplastless]

Grubby

If you can afford to travel for the tree, when you find it, you could have me and my wife - we are both half Irish and both have a background in tree biology, come and visit and plant your tree correctly for you. We could give you sound advice in future care as well. I.e., when you decide to plant it in the ground.

We planted three willows properly near our home for a old owner and the trees look great. When we took a closer look the deer (buck) had rubbed their antlers on the tree creating long wounds. I know that this could set the stag for certain conditions in the future like a hollow for a creature to live in, but I wish we had placed wire mesh about 4' from and around the trees. I really do love the deer, believe they have a right to be here, believe they require this type of rubbing, but it hurts. So your situation may require a fence to protect the tree from such wounds, I guess. Just a suggestion.

John

[Steve]

I won't pretend to know what your weather is like in late January, but our prunus mume "Peggy Clarke" blooms at Xmas in warm years and around the 15th of January in years when we still have snow on the ground at that time.