I know, wrong forum; there just really isn't a 'right' forum, and Ginkgo are primitive, same as Araucaria ;-) I have a 2' or so ginkgo, true species, not some cultivar. Was deeply concerned about it through the winter, as some b*stard slug at the top 3" of bark off the tree late last fall. I though it all for lost, until about two weeks ago when it started putting on fresh 3+" branches just below the missing bark. It's stripped clean for the top 3," as I mentioned, so I figured I'd either wind up with a forked tip, or a nasty crook to work out over the next 20 years if I lopped on of the new side-leaders off. The thing that's got me scoobied is that this thing is now starting to push out from the butt-nekkid tip, as well as budding out from the bare wood just below it?!? I'm totally confused! Can this thing possibly still support healthy growth with no bark?!? I don't want to remove it and try rooting it, especially if it will be OK as is. Any ideas?
Ginkgo is very tolerant of abuse and has strong powers of regeneration. I'd let it grow on as it is, and if it develops competing leaders, sort them out in a year or two.
Think there may be a chance of it regrowing the missing bark then? Just don't want it to put too much effort into this terminal bud only to have it die off.
Well, here's a month's progress for you... I know I read somewhere that these were 'slow growing.' Would love to mail this through to whoever that was... Adding links so as not to eat up too much band width. Also added photos of the leaves on one of the new branches. These are *significantly* larger than on the other two new major banches, as well as all of the minor branches that have come into the sunlight over the last month. Getting odd here... This was a straight stick three months ago, without a single branch, bud or leaf. Actually looks like a tree now! Photo 3 shows the missing bark I mentioned in my original post. Obviously hasn't mattered so far, but I'm still uncomfortable with it, and am already concerned about what may happen this winter. http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/DGuertin/Ginkgo1.jpg http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/DGuertin/Ginkgo2.jpg http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/DGuertin/Ginkgo3.jpg http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/DGuertin/GinkLeaf1.jpg http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/DGuertin/GinkLeaf2.jpg http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/DGuertin/GinkLeaf3.jpg http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/DGuertin/GinkLeaf4.jpg
