We have a project with a 90 year old monkey
puzzle (Araucaria araucana). Does anyone have
experience with development around this tree?
Root pruning? Other disturbance? What is its
expected life-span either in cultivation or
nature?

Thanks very much.

Reply to post by Jim Clark, on October 28, 1998 at 17:26:32:

Jim:

I had a large MP in Vancouver that had been compromised by excavation to within about 3 metres of the base (and down about 5 metres). The tree was suffering some stress when I first saw it, but I had the hole backfilled and a low watering regime to get the fill moist. Two years later it was almost dead and has since been removed (2 large but logs sitting chez moi, waiting to be milled up). I had anothre large MP down on the delta that was left alone by creation of a very lareg well (about 5 times the radial drip line distance) withone side open so that flooding would not occur. It seemed fine when I last saw it a few years back. I am sorry, but I cannot recall the root structure of the one that came out - it must have been the prospect of the wood that diverted my attention!

Cheers

Julian Dunster
Bowen Island, BC
Canada