Finally a mostly sunny week. Overall the trees responded favorably to the sun and related heat. The temperatures climbed a couple of times into low-mid nineties but did not stay there for long. Humidity was high, in the 80s and 90s. Strong thunderstorms pummeled areas around the state but resulted only in one moderate rain locally.
Although average growth was just 0.7" across all trees, one in particular established an all time weekly record. #33 added 3 inches past week and captured the top rank in height. In addition to the height it continues to grow vigorously in all directions along the tree trunk.
This sample is a clear outlier that added 17 inches since last winter, twice as much as any other. Percent-wise it currently sits at 170% since last winter, also twice as much as the next highest. I am beginning to suspect that the roots escaped the container and are now reaching into the soil around. I observed a similar phenomenon with #39 that had three strong roots, one on the bottom and two on the sides that reached outside of the container. Based on the evidence of extreme growth and escaping roots in previously removed containers, I decided to move #33, potentially cutting the roots but preserving the plant long term.
Experiment #39 proved to be successful. Even though I cut off three roots while moving it to a new sunnier spot, it grew well adding 1.75" last week. As mentioned last time, the sunny experiment trees were moved once again with the containers buried in the ground.
One of the sunny experiment tree continued to lose height. It was #65 that is missing a leading branch. Pervious branches that were measured for height curved significantly over last few weeks pushing overall heigh down. The currently measured top branch is not resembling a lead at all. It is expected that the tree will continue to go down but overall it remains well developed with minor evidence of damage.
The remaining two sunny experiment samples are too young and short to draw any conclusions yet. One added 0.75" and the other posted zero gain.
Top ten placement changed very little, except already described #33 that went from number three to the top spot and #39 gaining one spot ahead of #24 that is now at number nine.
Bottom ten grew moderately well given their overall lower heights. The notable exceptions were #15 that added above average 1.75", already described #65 that lost quarter of an inch and the CA1 sample that failed to show growth for many weeks.
Since CA1 continues to waste space I decided to replace it with next best candidate from the backup patch:
Although average growth was just 0.7" across all trees, one in particular established an all time weekly record. #33 added 3 inches past week and captured the top rank in height. In addition to the height it continues to grow vigorously in all directions along the tree trunk.
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| #33 July 19, 2015 |
Experiment #39 proved to be successful. Even though I cut off three roots while moving it to a new sunnier spot, it grew well adding 1.75" last week. As mentioned last time, the sunny experiment trees were moved once again with the containers buried in the ground.
One of the sunny experiment tree continued to lose height. It was #65 that is missing a leading branch. Pervious branches that were measured for height curved significantly over last few weeks pushing overall heigh down. The currently measured top branch is not resembling a lead at all. It is expected that the tree will continue to go down but overall it remains well developed with minor evidence of damage.
The remaining two sunny experiment samples are too young and short to draw any conclusions yet. One added 0.75" and the other posted zero gain.
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| Sunny patch July 2015. A row of four sequoias fenced against the animals plentiful in the area. |
Bottom ten grew moderately well given their overall lower heights. The notable exceptions were #15 that added above average 1.75", already described #65 that lost quarter of an inch and the CA1 sample that failed to show growth for many weeks.
Since CA1 continues to waste space I decided to replace it with next best candidate from the backup patch:
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| Backup patch July 19, 2015 |
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