Trees: Age/Condition or No. of Times Transplanted
Age/Condition
For young/small trees (seedlings, cuttings, transplants and occasionally whips and feathered trees) it is necessary to specify the age and condition of the tree. It is best to be precise and follow the designations indicated below which are internationally recognised.
Within these definitions the following conventions are followed.
+ or / indicates transplanting
u or = indicates undercutting
Seedlings
Figure 1: 1u1 SEEDLING
| Description |
Definition |
| 1+0 or 1/0 |
A 1 year old seedling which has not been transplanted |
| 0= or 1/0= |
A 1 year old undercut seedling |
| 1u1 |
A 2 year old seedling, undercut after 1 year but not transplanted from the seedbed |
| 2+0 or 2/0 |
A 2 year old seedling which has not been transplanted |
| 2u2 |
A 4 year old seedling, undercut after 2 years but not transplanted from the seedbed |
Cuttings
Figure 2: 0/2 CUTTING
| Description |
Definition |
| 0/1 |
A 1 year old hardwood cutting which has not been transplanted |
| 0/2 |
A 2 year old hardwood cutting which has not been transplanted |
Transplants (seedling propagated)
Figure 3: 1+2 TRANSPLANT
| Description |
Definition |
| 1+1 or 1/1 |
2 year old seedling transplant; 1 year in seedbed, transplanted and grown on for one year |
| 1+2 or 1/2 |
3 year old seedling transplant; 1 year in seedbed, transplanted and grown on for 2 years |
| 2+1 or 2/1 |
2+1 or 2/1 3 year old seedling transplant, 2 years in seedbed, transplanted and grown on for 1 year |
| 2+2 or 2/2 |
4 year old seedling transplant, 2 years in seedbed, transplanted and grown on for 2 years |
Transplants (Cutting propagated)
| Description |
Definition |
| 0/1/1 |
2 year old cutting transplant, 1 year in cutting bed, transplanted and grown on for 1 year |
| 0/1/2 |
3 year old cutting transplant, one year in cutting bed, transplanted and grown on for 2 years |
| 0/2/1 |
3 year old cutting transplant, 2 years in cutting bed, transplant and grown on for 1 year |
Whips and feathered trees
Although it may be possible to specify the Age/Condition of a Whip or Feathered tree more typically the overall height is the primary criterion for the specification of these trees.
No. of times transplanted (x transplanted)
Transplanting (or undercutting) encourages a compact and fibrous root system and enables the easier and more successful supply and establishment of large trees. The following are recommendations for the number of times trees of different sizes should be transplanted.
Ideally trees should be transplanted once every three years until Semi-Mature or Specimen size when they should be transplanted every five years
| Form |
No of times transplanted |
| Feathered trees up to 200/250 cm |
2 times (2x) |
| Clear stem standards and feathered trees |
2 - 3 times (2 - 3 x) |
| Semi-mature trees 20cm + |
4 - 6 times (4 - 6 x) |
| Multi stemmed and bushy trees |
2 - 4 times (2 - 4 x) |