Interesting? Ugly? Waste of time? Coast Live Oak

JJshives

Sapling
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Location
Central Coast CA
USDA Zone
9
Here I have a coast live oak I collected sometime within the last 18-24months. It was in the landscape in the front yard and needed to be removed. I thought it was interesting as it had a little "kink" in the trunk where it was damaged at some point as a small seedling so I potted it up to see what would happen. I expected the kink to smooth out over time as it grew but it really hasn't yet or at least not enough to eliminate the reverse taper. It was only 6 inches tall when first potted so it has been growing well. I still think there's a chance it will grow out and lose the reverse taper, but I have my doubts. I have a few other coast live oaks growing out so its no real loss if it doesn't work out.

The wood grow box is probably on its last year so I was thinking I would repot in spring and get it into some better soil. I would also chop it back at that time. These things back bud like crazy so what I'm thinking is if I get a bud below the kink, I could use that as a sacrifice to thicken below the kink. I would actually be surprised if it didn't back bud below the kink. I'm also thinking an angle change is in order. IMG_3192.JPGIMG_3196.JPGIMG_3199.JPGIMG_3202.JPG
 

JJshives

Sapling
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Location
Central Coast CA
USDA Zone
9
Couple more full tree shots.
 

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Your way over thinking this tree. Chop off one of those trunks, it will never be a good twin trunk, change the planting angle to make your kink more attractive and throw it back in the ground for a few years, it will grow faster and with proper trimming in the ground will ramify faster. As it is now it will not be a great tree. But if you're in love with it like that just ignore me.
 

justBonsai

Omono
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You have nice lower trunk movement. I'd just give it a few years of unrestricted growth to beef up the trunk. A chop probably will be in order later.
 
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