Bending larch saplings

[jeremy_norbury]

Larch make fine telegraph poles and this will not be completely lost on anyone who's growing them for bonsai. But we don't need to take this shit.

Exhibit 1 - a bucket of larch saplings from last year - they came from the forests around Apeldoorn: https://www.google.nl/maps/place/Ap...m2!3m1!1s0x47c7b8284d1487cb:0x400de5a8d1e65b0

03124326 by Jerry Norbury, on Flickr

03124336 by Jerry Norbury, on Flickr

Anyway, I carefully, very carefully, wrap them in vetwrap (making sure all buds on the trunk are exposed) and then...

03124341 by Jerry Norbury, on Flickr

Wire them and bend them to buggery. Buggery is the technical term for bent larch.
03124349 by Jerry Norbury, on Flickr

03124353 by Jerry Norbury, on Flickr

03124359 by Jerry Norbury, on Flickr

03124368 by Jerry Norbury, on Flickr

And when it pleases me not to first vetwrap them, I get to play with grafting paste, because they break!
03124370 by Jerry Norbury, on Flickr

03124375 by Jerry Norbury, on Flickr

03124390 by Jerry Norbury, on Flickr

03124393 by Jerry Norbury, on Flickr

03124401 by Jerry Norbury, on Flickr

03124402 by Jerry Norbury, on Flickr

And then we wait. I leave them in these pots to grow slowly for the first season until they're stuck in shape then wire off and into the ground .

03134547 by Jerry Norbury, on Flickr

 

[jeremy_norbury]

And here's one I made earlier: https://www.flickr.com/photos/norbury/albums/72157628195965627

 

[Tentakelaertje]

Can't wait to see more of these! Nice as always, Jerry.
Where do you get your vet wrap?

 

[M. Frary]

Pretty cool Jerry! Looks like you dig them like I do. In wads.
This takes care of the straightness but as you also know they don't do much in the taper department.

 

[jeremy_norbury]

Can't wait to see more of these! Nice as always, Jerry.
Where do you get your vet wrap?

Online - pet stores. Got mine in NL.

 

[jeremy_norbury]

Pretty cool Jerry! Looks like you dig them like I do. In wads.
This takes care of the straightness but as you also know they don't do much in the taper department.

Nah, they need to go in the ground for a fair few years after this. It's still a bit of fun though.

 

[0soyoung]

You bugger (a noun for one who bends larch)!
Good show.

 

[just.wing.it]

Nice, thanks!

 

[Tentakelaertje]

Online - pet stores. Got mine in NL.

Was figuring maybe de Welkoop/Boerenbond or something. Will snoop around. Thanks!

 

[fredman]

Nice. Love playing with little trees man
Didn't know what vet wrap was so I Googled it.... turns out it has 10 003 uses. I'm off to get me some.....

http://theruraleconomist.blogspot.co.nz/2015/03/24-uses-for-vet-wrap.html

 

[LanceMac10]

Wow!! Larch....you will be bent to my will!!
Excellent job on these little larches. These will certainly look unique as they mature. Great approach!! And thanks for sharing.

 

[jeremy_norbury]

Was figuring maybe de Welkoop/Boerenbond or something. Will snoop around. Thanks!

Found where I bought mine now - https://www.medicanimal.nl/search/?text=bandage

 

[base797]

Those are sweet, gonna be really cool in a few years. Looking forward to seeing them down the road. So, wondering about the vet wrap (like a lot of people). My recollection is that it's fairly stretchy? I assume you are using it for compression with the acute bends? Or. to protect the trunk from the wire? Both? Thanks

Patrik

 

[Nwaite]

Is this a good idea to do with most seedlings I dig up?

 

[barrosinc]

How much cold do these'need?
Does a larch grow in California as bonsai?

 

[M. Frary]

Found where I bought mine now - https://www.medicanimal.nl/search/?text=bandage

I have some I used to tape my ankles and fists for martial arts. I got it at the local pharmacy. Check there too.

 

[f1pt4]

How quickly do they fatten up to the point you have to remove the wire/wrap? Last year my larches growing in pots thickened up over a span of 6 months that the wire bit in a good 1/8 of an inch.

Please keep us updated. This is right up my larch alley.

 

[Tentakelaertje]

Found where I bought mine now - https://www.medicanimal.nl/search/?text=bandage

You da man!

I have some I used to tape my ankles and fists for martial arts. I got it at the local pharmacy. Check there too.

I will, thanks Mike!

 

[jeremy_norbury]

How quickly do they fatten up to the point you have to remove the wire/wrap? Last year my larches growing in pots thickened up over a span of 6 months that the wire bit in a good 1/8 of an inch.

Please keep us updated. This is right up my larch alley.

6 months sounds about right. The trunks can swell considerably around the wiring - which can also be a positive thing. I've got a couple I started 2 years ago which I'll make some photos of.

 

[quietobserver]

Good stuff Jerry!