Today I finally got around to digging up a Japanese seedling that has been growing between two azaleas, beneath its "dad/mom" since spring of 2004. The "tree" has been replanted, and staked, in a 5 gal. container with my "special" potting soil. The specimen is approximately 24 inches tall and very healthy looking; tickest part of trunk is approx. 1/4 inch in diameter. Now for the question--when I dug the specimen up I noticed that due to crowding with the azaleas, the trunk has developed two, 90-deg. bends. The first is a horizontal bend that started almost at ground level. It grew approx. 2 inches horizontally before returning to the vertical with another 90-deg. bend. Would it be okay to bury the horizontal portion of the trunk in the potting soil, or must it remain above ground? If it must remain above ground is there anyway to "splint" the trunk to "encourage" the 90-deg. bends to disappear. This is my first post to this forum, and apologies for being so wordy. All responses/recommendations will be appreciated. Thanks
Re: Japanese Maple question you can bury it, and if you want, apply root hormone for further separation down the line.
Re: Japanese Maple question Yeah you can bury it and in so doing kill it. Keep the upper most roots covered with no more than 1/4 inch of soil.
