Two Trees in One. Should I leave it alone?
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Joanie J on Jul 23, 2013I would trim the top in a cool shapeHelpful Reply
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Karen on Jul 23, 2013Thanks Joanie. Like what shape? With edger? I don't know if I would do it justice.Helpful Reply
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Z on Jul 23, 2013I'd leave it alone. It looks awesome in it's own way.Helpful Reply
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Karen on Jul 23, 2013Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.Helpful Reply
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Patricia W on Jul 24, 2013The lower tree looks more like a cedar. Thuja do not grow like that. They are more columnar. The pine on top will eventually topple and break at the graft because the two trees grow differently. Interesting though.Helpful Reply
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April on Jul 24, 2013Wow. Interesting! I'd prune it, but not too much - in case that particular kind is sensitive to too much being taken off. Perhaps in a similar shape to the tall one.Helpful Reply
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The Garden Frog with C Renee on Jul 24, 2013The lower shrub looks like an Alberta Spruce and the upper one looks to be another type of spruce. It is hard to tell in the picture. I would trim the bottom bush to look more like a skirt or a ball so that the top spruce stands out more. It is a cool looking combo.Helpful Reply
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360 Sod (Donna Dixson) on Jul 24, 2013This is a great article to explain the phenomenon of REVERSION. http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/understanding_tree_reversionsHelpful Reply
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Barbara Thomas on Jul 24, 2013I would separate these 2 before they get too much larger. I agree the top tree will eventually break off and it's the most beautiful. I don't have any idea how they can be separated though....do you see roots on the top one?Helpful Reply
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Z on Jul 24, 2013Very interesting info @360 Sod (Donna Dixson)Helpful Reply
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Better Outdoor Living at Home on Jul 24, 2013From the photo, the top tree looks like it might be a fir?? If you want to keep it, you might try pruning all the branches off the bottom plant, so the top plant looks like it has a trunk that was limbed (lower branches removed). Whatever you do with it though, it might not ever be a strong wooded tree. ~MHelpful Reply
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Karen on Jul 24, 2013Barbara Thomas, No roots. I remember grafting with sphagnum moss and a plastic bag tied around it to root a plant, but I thought it was interesting to leave and see what happened. I agree this is a fir pine and not even a blue spruce, as next to it. The other is not a cedar as we have several of those on the river. The lower one is an Alberta Spruce. It came back from brown and ugly in the cooler weather. It is just a "junk tree" I suppose. If it starts to break off I will do something. Thanks for all of the comments.Helpful Reply
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Linda Hopper on Jul 24, 2013God don't make junk...enjoy it for what it is. Beautiful.Helpful Reply
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Tanya Peterson Felsheim on Jul 24, 2013how fun! but guess its not a good thing overall....let us know what you end up doingHelpful Reply
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Joanie J on Jul 24, 2013you could call a tree trimming place and see what they recommend and maybe have them trim it I have a tree trimmer coming over tomorrow to look at two of mine but he said it would be better to wait til the weather cools down before he will trim them..Helpful Reply
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April on Jul 25, 2013@Karen - Looks like it has the potential to be someone very beautiful with a little bit of pruning, but it's up to you. :) @Linda - Love the comment, and so very true. :)Helpful Reply
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Jeanette S on Jul 25, 2013Are the grafted trees going to interfere with that beautiful Blue Spruce? Since there is a chance the top of the grafted trees might break off, I would watch to make sure the Blue on has plenty of room...and take down the others if they become a problem.Helpful Reply
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Leona G on Jul 25, 2013The tree on the top is actually a spruce tree. Do you want 2 different trees in one plant? If no decide which tree you want most. If yes then do you want to make a topiary out of it. Spruce trees take well to trimming but not so well to harsh pruning, If it were me I would keep the spruce and get rid of the lower tree by hard pruning or shape it to look like a pot for the spruce tree. Spruce tree will grow to about 50'. Good luckHelpful Reply
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Susan Duvall on Jul 25, 2013The top tree should be shaped into a nice xmas tree shape and harvested for xmas. then the other tree could grow on unfettered.Helpful Reply
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Avis Powers on Jul 25, 2013I'm not going to be any help at all, but I have an opinion -sort of. Doesn't everyone? I think that you should do as others have suggested with a LITTLE bit of pruning and shaping for now. Trimming the alberta to look like a pot on the bottom sounds kind of neat to me, and maybe just trimming the spruce on top to keep it's nice shape. And then, enjoy & show off your UNIQUE creation! Because, let's face it, how many other people have a tree that looks like that? Not too many, I'm thinking! Eventually it probably will break off or something, but why not enjoy it for what it is right now?Helpful Reply
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Gypzgyrl on Jul 25, 2013It is a gift from God. Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us.Helpful Reply
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Karen on Jul 25, 2013@Rhonda, I see what you mean about a witches broom in Donna's info. It's too cute to get rid of and I like the creativity of the pot idea. It seems very secure and stable on top. I won't be around for 50 feet people, so I am going to watch and learn. Watch and enjoy and maybe do a little trimming, but the Alberta is brown underneath. I suppose it will green up after it is trimmed? Yeah? I watered it last weekend and it has rained. We are not always up at the cabin where it is located, so it is what it is.Helpful Reply
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Karen on Jul 25, 2013@Susan Duvall ~ I had thought just that same thing. Christmas tree. If it starts to break off, I will harvest it for just that if we are up in December.Helpful Reply
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Virginia on Jul 25, 2013You should move the smaller tree. You do this in winter or spring. Dig around the roots first, then let it sit in the ground for a week or so before the move. Stop pruning it. That little tree looks beautiful when left to be it's original self, that pruning looks bad.Helpful Reply
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Diana Wise on Jul 25, 2013We as people do lots of wild things with nature, grafting, combing plants, animals people.....you should let Mother Nature alone....it looks AWESOME.Helpful Reply
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Sabina on Jul 25, 2013You have a "sport". It's when a cultivar reverts back to the original species normal growth characteristics. If you want to keep your dwarf cultivar you need to cut it off at the point of reversion.Helpful Reply
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Stacie on Jul 25, 2013Why not just ask someone from a tree farm or a nursery and see what they think.? I like the way it looks but every ones right the two trees need seperated.Helpful Reply
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Lorah Marquardt on Jul 25, 2013The link Donna Dixon gave in her comment was very informative. It does indeed look like your cultivar is reverting back to a standard growth pattern. Very fascinating stuff. Thanks for sharing.Helpful Reply
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Sherrie S on Jul 25, 2013I would let it be and see what nature decides should be done. That look is really too special to destroy.Helpful Reply
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Karen on Jul 25, 2013I don't plan to disturb it unless it gets in distress. I think it is unique and they are both happy "married".Helpful Reply
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Karen on Jul 25, 2013Donna, I missed your comment until today. You are spot on. Thank you for seeing it is more common than I knew. You and Lorah know your stuff. Thanks for all the comments.Helpful Reply
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Pajunka on Jul 26, 2013Yup. Reversion. This reminds me of when some of my tulips went to seed. Crazy, but they did. (First comes seed, then comes bulbs). Instead of coming back in their original color- pink? purple?, can't remember- they came back in thi two original colors of all tulips, yellow and red.Helpful Reply
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Judy on Jul 27, 2013@360 Sod (Donna Dixson) Thank you for the informative link! I learn so much from you. @Karen ALWAYS listen to Donna Dixson! She really knows her stuff. So does Douglas Hunt! There are a lot of well meaning people out there who do not know their butt from a hole in the ground like the one who recently told someone that their giant ragweed was marijuana...lolHelpful Reply
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