American Beech

[Forrestford]

Hey all,
This is my first post on this site. I need some help on what to do with my tree I collected late winter/ early spring. It had good growth over the summer, those branches on the bottom started mid summer, leaving to hopefully strengthen the trunk more. I’m thinking I need to hard prune the branches back and maybe some of the height but I’m not really sure. I’ve never worked on a tree like this. ( pretty new to bonsai, about a year) anyways some tips would be appreciated, I figure if I start planning now then next spring should be a lot easier. Also I want to get a new pot, that’s all I had when I came home with the tree. It also got a little burnt this summer, I collected it from the forest, but it it a pretty healthy tree, one of the pics is from April when it first started to open up. What a great feeling!
. Thanks in advance Forrest

 

[Hartinez]

I love beech. Don’t have any personally but I’ve seen some magnificent specimen. My best advice would be to not jump too for in on this tree just yet. I’d say, find a spot in your yard to plant this guy and let it grow and thicken the trunk for a several years. In the mean time, in order to get your Bonsai feet wet, Find some cheap but thick based juniper or hardy deciduous at your local big box store and start practicing on them. Unless the pictures perspective is off, the proportions on this beech is not quite where you want it to be. May not be what you want to hear, but something to think about none the less. Best of luck!

 

[Hartinez]

Just saw the other thread of the same tree. @JudyB gives very sound advice. Welcome to the site btw!!

 

[Forrestford]

Yeah she does, I think next spring thats what i'm going to do, unless you think its ok to move now? I live in VA Beach so the weather is still in the 70-90's. I have plenty of other trees to work on in the meantime, about 30. I couldn't stop buying or collecting this year... haha. this is just one of my "cooler" trees. It will be sad to not have it on my porch but for the progress of this tree it will probably be best in the ground. Thanks for the adivce for this guy tho
Forrest

 

[JudyB]

You could indeed plant it in the ground this fall, the best root growth is during fall. I would wait a little, as your climate is still pretty warm this time of year, but you want it to settle in before cold weather if you do it now. Try to minimize root disturbance if possible. Make sure that you tend it if the weather becomes dry, and I might set up a hardware cloth surround for it if you have chewing rodents in your area, they love the bark of small trees.

 

[Forrestford]

Thanks for your help, it’s in the ground. The roots grew really well this summer. Underneath I put a plastic tray with holes in it covered in about 8 inches of soil so the roots don’t get too wild. Wish me luck!

 

[Forrestford]

Just a little update. Spring is here and my beech is the last to bud, But it made it. It’s so satisfying watching the buds break. Beautiful!