A cedar[?] yard-adori opportunity

Newish in Oregon

Yamadori
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A neighbor is offering up a roughly 8' evergreen she identifies as a cedar. Trunk is pretty straight but it does have branches quite low. I'm thinking if I were to dig it up, I'd chop it to 3' [or less?] and see where it went from there. Do folks think it's worth the effort?IMG_2281[1].JPGIMG_2279[1].JPGIMG_2278[1].JPG
 

rockm

Spuds Moyogi
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Leyland cypress. not worth the effort. Mostly a fast-growing junk tree used in landscaping for screening off or blocking unwanted views (roads, other building, etc.) and dampen sound. It's a hybrid of Monterey Cypress and Alaskan Nootka cypress.

They've fallen out of favor with many landscapers:

As bonsai, they are similar to White Cedar (arborvitae) but have none of the rugged charm. You have to learn how to deal with the fan-like foliage. Others have tried to make bonsai from it. Limited success:


Others have mediocre results--fifth pic down:
 

penumbra

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Aside from it being a poor candidate for a host of reasons, it is altogether a boring plant when trying to conceptualize as a bonsai.
It is a nice but overused tree for screening in the landscape. They do have their problems though even as a landscape plant. They seem to be fairly brittle and I have seen large ones (30'+) snap in high wind. The biggest problem is that they have been so overused for the past 40 or 50 years, that they have developed a host of problems with insect and disease resistance, and with genetics as well. As a landscaper, I haven't planted one in about 30 years.
 

Arnold

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I would dig it for sure, yeah you will have to go with the classic chokan with ten-jin old spruce style, but look it as a practice tree with low spectations, maybe it surprises you
 

penumbra

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I would save there is a greater likelihood of learning bad habits than good with this type of material. The frustration of trying to make a bonsai of this aside from the time invested, No Way.
But its your time and energy, you have been cautioned.
 

Newish in Oregon

Yamadori
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Preponderance of the feedback is not to do it. Though Arnold suggests viewing it as practice, I don't have the room for something w/ low expectations and I'm passing on it. Thanks for the thoughts
 
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