collected crabapple

[catfish chapstick]

In spring of 2009 I came across this crabapple growing wild near a creek on some undeveloped land in northern kentucky.
This photo was taken the the day it was collected.

 

[catfish chapstick]

here is a photo or the same plant as it began to leaf.
You can see here that the branches go crazy.

 

[catfish chapstick]

Not too sure what to do with this thing except reduce it. Now, I'm aware that many people would have probably trunk-chopped to a stump to build the tree up however after I examined the base of the trunk I decided that would not be my first choice. You see, the base of the tree is awkward and bulgy with hints of reverse taper throughout. A shorter tree will only make those flaws stand out more. Furthermore tree's flowers/fruits will be a little more in scale.

Here is the base

 

[catfish chapstick]

So I can always use trunk-chop as a last resort. I reduced the tree to a trunkline and pulled some branches down to imply gravity (no I don't plan on designing a pine) and adjusted the angle a little. I think the tree still needs to change its angle but I'm still undecided.

Here are some different angles of the tree today.

 

[catfish chapstick]

Here is one more.

 

[HotAction]

I like #3 and #4 nice movement.

 

[ghues]

# 1 and #4 have graceful movement, a nice find. Good luck with it.
G

 

[Attila Soos]

Here are some different angles of the tree today.

Remember that if you want, you can design your tree so that the tree can be viewed from multiple angles. As time goes by, you can then decide wich one you want to go with. Or you can plant it in a hexagonal or round pot and view it from all angles, if that's what you want.

 

[catfish chapstick]

here's an update. i'd like to just let it fill out and see it flower and fruit.

Attila- i was thinking the same thing.

will it be better off to stay in the large pot it's currently in? it puts on a lot of growth which i suppose is due to the large pot its in. i'm not planting it in the ground because the aphids will feast

also i'm struggling to think what pot would eventually look best with it.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Great selection of trunk-line from the collected tangle! I think I like the reverse to this most recent photo, or #4 from above. Here is a nice Sara Rayner pot that would be a good compliment:
http://www.redwing.net/~daalms/8r.html

 

[catfish chapstick]

Great selection of trunk-line from the collected tangle! I think I like the reverse to this most recent photo, or #4 from above. Here is a nice Sara Rayner pot that would be a good compliment:
http://www.redwing.net/~daalms/8r.html

thanks! here's a couple shots of it from that angle. i really like that pot.

 

[Si Nguyen]

That's a sweet crab! Very natural trunk line. It's almost done too. In another 5-6 years, you should be able to have a very nice specimen bonsai out of that.
Good luck!

 

[catfish chapstick]

That's a sweet crab! Very natural trunk line. It's almost done too. In another 5-6 years, you should be able to have a very nice specimen bonsai out of that.
Good luck!

i'm glad you think so! i hope it continues to improve. i can't wait. it grows faster than all my other trees combined.

 

[camikins]

Lovely!

I picked up a crab apple this spring, and did a trunk chop on it. Wow, fast grower (as you note). It's full of new, vigorous growth.

 

[catfish chapstick]

i just love this tree!

it has come a long way in a short time.

i have it in a new pot so tell me what you think. all opinions are welcome. i planted the tree at a sharp angle because of the shape of its root-flare...

 

[catfish chapstick]

more pictures.

 

[misfit11]

This tree is looking fantastic! It has great movement and seems to taper well. Any reverse taper that you were concerned with isn't really noticed. Nice work and keep us posted.

 

[Brian Underwood]

Nice development so far! I like the pot just fine, but having the tree planted so much off center is a bit distracting. Lookin good

 

[ghues]

Hi Catfish,
It does look good from many angles and has come a long way. I would have probably put it into a larger training pot to work on the roots but that should come in time. I look forward to seeing this one progress.

You've given me some ideas on a wild plum I collected this spring that is recovering well (lots of new shoots all over its lower trunk).
Cheers
G

 

[catfish chapstick]

This tree is looking fantastic! It has great movement and seems to taper well. Any reverse taper that you were concerned with isn't really noticed. Nice work and keep us posted.

thanks, yeah i thought that too.

Nice development so far! I like the pot just fine, but having the tree planted so much off center is a bit distracting. Lookin good

thanks brian. i kinda liked it off center like that. i'd consider moving it. does anyone else think this?

Hi Catfish,
It does look good from many angles and has come a long way. I would have probably put it into a larger training pot to work on the roots but that should come in time. I look forward to seeing this one progress.

You've given me some ideas on a wild plum I collected this spring that is recovering well (lots of new shoots all over its lower trunk).
Cheers
G

thankyou ghues. i was hoping to make it look good from all sides, or have multiple fronts. i may put it into a larger pot or even in the ground, but for now it seems to grow quite well in the pot-size its in. i'd love to see your wild plum!

does anyone have any advice about making it fruit??
i want the fruit!