Yew Design Ideas

fore

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I found this really nice yew in a 2 g. container that I transplanted last week. I took off a few branches to open it up. I'm thinking of a slant design but would love to hear other ideas.

I can practice on yew horticulture and management so when in 2-3 yrs, I'll have a good handle on yews and feel confident working with my new collected ones.

Here's a pic:
 

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Dav4

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It's hard to tell from one pic what the best design would be, though I would agree that the left trunk has more options then the straight middle one. Exposing the nebari and pics from other angles would help with advice, too.

If I didn't have a definite plan for a yew like this, I'd focus on driving the foliage back toward the trunk. Prune the heck out of it now, jinning whatever is absolutely not needed, and leaving leaving a bit of green on the branches you might want later. Don't mess with the roots, and it should back bud like crazy. After a year of staring at it, the best design may become obvious...if not...rinse and repeat:).
 

october

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I find that yews grow so fast, that leaving your options open can be very important. Since they do grow very quickly, they can literally create new choices every year/every other year. I would create a very basic shape of what you want, then let it grow all new branches. Which will only take about 2-3 years. Then pick the young branches you want and wire them. Basically, when you start work on this, you will be picking a trunk line and position. You will probably need to grow almost everything else.

Rob
 

fore

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I uploaded the wrong first pic. The nursery soil was very organic, so I decided to repot this last week. I've had advice that yews can take repotting and styling, and the only one insult per yr. But given that I don't have a solid idea what to do, I'm thinking I should just sit on this the rest of the yr. Here's the new potting, and btw, I bare rooted it. Sorry about the confusion guys!
 

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fore

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This has put on 3-4" of new growth. Would anyone advise me if I can do some pruning and/or styling, or wait the yr?
 

october

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Hi fore.. I wouldn't style because pulling on the tree from pruning and wiring can disturb the roots. Also, because I think that letting it grow will open up new options. In fact, I think that ultimately about 80% of the foliage and branches you currently see will not be used in the final design.

Rob
 

fore

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Hi fore.. I wouldn't style because pulling on the tree from pruning and wiring can disturb the roots. Also, because I think that letting it grow will open up new options. In fact, I think that ultimately about 80% of the foliage and branches you currently see will not be used in the final design.

Rob

Thank You Rob! I'd much rather be safe since it's such a cool tree.

And all I could say is "Wow", only 20% of what's there will be used. Hadn't thought of it in that way.
You're prob. right too, letting it grow out a bit might give me better options, as well as an inspiration to something better! ;)

Besides, this is kinda a test tree for me...to learn the horticultural care, and making it into a bonsai. Then I'll be set when I can work on my collected yews.

Chris
 

fore

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I've stared at this tree for quite awhile now, and think I found a good trunkline. Any thoughts or comments or suggestions? Only caveat is the left main apex will be a bit higher than shown in photo.
Nursery Yew3.jpg

Edit: Amazing! It's upright. Great to know my iphone's pics can be oriented correctly.
 

october

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Is that the height you want and where the apex will actually be?

Rob
 

fore

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Is that the height you want and where the apex will actually be?

Rob

Sorry Rob, missed your post. No, I'm envisioning a 12" tall finished tree. I just didn't have the right photo showing more of the trunkline. The main apex will be on the left red line and I'm thinking of the right secondary trunk's apex to be 3" less, so 9".
 

october

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You can sort of dictate where you want the tree to grow. For example, if you cut back branches or cut branches off. New buds will form in that area. Even on the trunk. If you cut a large branch off flush to the trunk. The tree will probably send out a few buds right at the cut. If you cut back the top, almost like hedging, it will create buds lower. That is what is great about yews. That and the fact that you can get branches half the thickness or of a pencil or more in 1 year.

Rob
 

fore

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Rob, you're absolutely right, it's a great trait for growing them aggressively, and the ease of new branch development where you want it. I'll see how that trait will work to keep growth checked when it's fully developed.

I never thought this tree would be ready to be worked after the repot earlier this yr., the pot is packed with roots. But, I'm going to wait and style it next yr. anyway. Like you said earlier, see if any other inspirations occur over the winter lol But if I can get it to look like what I have in mind, I think it'll make a cool little tree in the end. ;)

Speaking of yews, today I saw in our neighborhood 10"ish w. trunk that was sinuous and ever so sexy in the first 2-3' of the trunk. 8-10' tall, with cool old bark too. It just stopped me in my tracks, and left me wondering about all the 'possibilities' lol I'd say, it's the coolest old yew I've seen so far here.
 

october

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Rob, you're absolutely right, it's a great trait for growing them aggressively, and the ease of new branch development where you want it. I'll see how that trait will work to keep growth checked when it's fully developed.

I never thought this tree would be ready to be worked after the repot earlier this yr., the pot is packed with roots. But, I'm going to wait and style it next yr. anyway. Like you said earlier, see if any other inspirations occur over the winter lol But if I can get it to look like what I have in mind, I think it'll make a cool little tree in the end. ;)

Speaking of yews, today I saw in our neighborhood 10"ish w. trunk that was sinuous and ever so sexy in the first 2-3' of the trunk. 8-10' tall, with cool old bark too. It just stopped me in my tracks, and left me wondering about all the 'possibilities' lol I'd say, it's the coolest old yew I've seen so far here.

Can it be collected?:D

Is it better than Kevin Willsons yew? Here is the before and after. I hope your sitting down for this one..lol This is one of my all time favorite bonsai and it's not even in a bonsai pot yet.

In my opinion, it is one of, if not the best yew, in existence. Once again, just my opinion.

Rob



 

fore

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OMG, that is awesome, and I agree, it is the best yew I've 'now' seen lol. Thanks for sharing those images Rob, into my 'yew example' file for future inspiration ;) Kevin is so talented.

And unfort. this yew I saw is in front of a 2 flat rental property, privately owned. Only tenants live there so it's nearly impossible to leave a note for the owner of the house. I was thinking anyway of leaving a note and asking the tenants to give it to the owner (It's a north facing house so almost total shade with these huge yews making it even darker. So he maybe open to the idea of me collecting these and replacing with whatever he wants.) I've never done this before, but not much to lose.
 

fore

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Well, I realized I won't have enough space in my hoop house for all my trees what with these 3 huge yews I have to store, as well as my new RMJ. So, I decided to work this tree to help with my limited space. Here it is after a couple days work. So under the shade cloth for a week or two. The base of the trunk is about 2.5-3" wide.

IMG_1492.jpg
 

october

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Well, I realized I won't have enough space in my hoop house for all my trees what with these 3 huge yews I have to store, as well as my new RMJ. So, I decided to work this tree to help with my limited space. Here it is after a couple days work. So under the shade cloth for a week or two. The base of the trunk is about 2.5-3" wide.

View attachment 41962

Hi Chris. I like it. I hesitate to mention this, but it is important. Now is the wrong time to work on yews. You might need to give this tree quite a bit of winter protection. There is very little growth on it. When winter comes, if you get die back, there will be even less. Also, the growth that it is going to put on in the next month will probably not be hardy enough for winter.

Rob
 

fore

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No, I didn't realize that Rob. But I didn't have much choice if I want to get everything to fit. I was going to leave more on, but thought I could get away with this. I'll def. give it extra protection this winter, Thanks for the warning.
 

october

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Just a thought. If you can get the tree's left side pretty strong, you can remove most of the right side and create a jin there. You could have a nice semi cascade just working with the left side. Maybe something like this.

Rob
 

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Joedes3

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I find it amazaing that some of you can come up with the virtuals that you do. Thanks for your insight.

Joe De
 

fore

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Just a thought. If you can get the tree's left side pretty strong, you can remove most of the right side and create a jin there. You could have a nice semi cascade just working with the left side. Maybe something like this.

Rob

I like that quite a bit Rob! A very nice direction to go...mine vision was a bit 'bland' so to speak lol Your's is more dynamic/dramatic, and makes the tree look older too. So Thank You very much for that virt. Rob, I'll see what if I can pull it off ;) But a good start at least is the L. side is dominant. I think this is very doable. Thanks again Rob for the idea and your time to make a great virtual! (Ever watch those before/after renovation movies, or the ones where interior designers come in a remake your home? This is kinda like that LOL!)

And I agree Joe wholeheartedly, we are lucky to have some generous and talented people here;)
 
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