Frost-damaged Ginkgo

Discussion in 'Gymnosperms (incl. Conifers)' started by AlainK, Apr 25, 2021.

  1. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    It's the first time I've seen this : after the spell of very warm weather we had, high temps records broken with 25.4° C, we had some frost. I have 3 potted Ginkgos, and all had their young leaves burned by temps of down to -5° C. They haven't evolved for the last 3 weeks.

    Here's one of mine this morning :

    ginkgo02_210424a.jpg

    There are quite a few Ginkgos around, and some of them are now in full leaves, but I went to a park yesterday and saw this one :

    ginkgoPF1_210424a.jpg ginkgoPF1_210424b.jpg

    Will my potted trees recover ? I think so, but I'm a bit worried since one of them is one of my favourite bonsai :

    ginkgo01_191017a.jpg
     
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  2. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    And these are the toughest trees in the world, they survived whilst the Dinosaurs did not, survived atomic bombs, but late Spring frosts in 2021 is another story.
    I will pay close attention to spraying tonight on my Ginko's, thanks for the heads up Alain.
     
  3. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    In the worst case, they will backbud lower on the trunk but I'm a bit worried I might lose some branches on the "bonsai".

    I went for a short walk in a park which is inside the city, so I expected the big Gingko there to be OK, and it is. It's a tough guy :

    2021-04-25_JdP01.jpg 2021-04-25_JdP02.jpg 2021-04-25_JdP03.jpg 2021-04-25_JdP04.jpg 2021-04-25_JdP05.jpg 2021-04-25_JdP06.jpg

    On the plate, it's written it's about 15 metres, I think it's even higher.

    There's another one, a cultivar : 'Mariken'. It's only about 2 metres tall, is in a more exposed area, and has suffered from the frost. It's mainly the leaves on the top of the branches that are damaged, those pointing under are in a much better condition :

    2021-04-25_JdP07.jpg
     
  4. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    They should re bud Alain. I'm not a Bonsai expert 'at all' as you know, but I have Ginkos in the garden and one was hit by a late frost in 2019 and it produced new leaves by early June. My fingers are crossed for yours.
     
  5. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    Phew, I feel relieved...

    As I said, I'm pretty sure they will backbud, but the pb is "where". With maples, it's easy : where there is a "ring" of growth. With Ginkgos, you never know...
     
  6. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Dinosaurs did survive of course, they rebranded and are flying around us all the time ;-)
     
  7. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    That's very true Michael, and as I was a trained raptor ( birds of prey) handler, I should have said that. But my meaning about the Ginkgo and Dinosaurs was more of an overall message, that they are real suvivors.
     
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  8. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    That's what's happening with my Ginkgo biloba 'Saratoga', but it seems the buds further up are about to push a new growth too :

    ginkgo-saratoga01_210508a.jpg ginkgo-saratoga01_210508b.jpg

    A "plain" Ginkgo is also showing new buds. The first leaves are dead and brown, but new ones are about to show :

    ginkgo02_210508a.jpg

    I went to different parks in the past two weeks, most of the Ginkgos had the same symptom except one. I visited an arboretum today, and it was the same (no photos).
     
  9. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    Thats brilliant Alain, as I said, before, the same happened to mine. They are real survivors.
     
  10. Georgia Strait

    Georgia Strait Generous Contributor

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    This title topic re: ginkgo reminds me of a couple of side topics

    1. Gingko petrified forest state park to Interstate 90 (I-90) on the Columbia River downstream of the HUGE « dry falls » in central Washington State USA (the result of our most recent ice age & Lake Missoula)

    Isn’t Gingko one of the still extant oldest living species ?

    2. @Margot might know - there was a little arboretum above Transfer Beach in Ladysmith just south of 49th parallel (our border w USA in most of Canada West) - a tree over on Vanc Island where the former Crown Zellerbach office was on side of highway - and a mature gingko circa 1990s. It was very prominent. I wonder if it’s still there ... I suppose google st view might show me .
     
  11. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    Cool, rainy weather here, 5/17 or the like. Perfect for maples, and the Ginkgos are pushing out new leaves :

    ginkgo02_210514a.jpg ginkgo02_210514b.jpg

    ('Sarratoga')

    ginkgo-saratoga01_210514a.jpg
     
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  12. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    Your happy now Alain!!
     
  13. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    My cool, awaiting serenely the weeks to come. The future is never bad...
     
  14. Acerholic

    Acerholic Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator VCBF Cherry Scout Maple Society

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    A very good way to look on life in general me thinks!!!
     
  15. AlainK

    AlainK Renowned Contributor Forums Moderator Maple Society 10 Years

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    They've made it ! No wonder, Ginkgo is said to be the only tree that survived Hiroshima.

    The "bonsai" and its air-layer that is now over 1.90 tall (with the pot). It's getting too big for my small garden so I will probably air-layer it again, just below the first branches and higher up on the trunk. I'm sure dormant buds will push out on the lower part, and I will give the "clones" to friends.

    ...Or not ;-)

    ginkgo01_211008a.jpg ginkgo02_211008a.jpg
     
    Georgia Strait and Nik like this.

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