Beginning a fat multi-trunk yaupon holly

Which side should be the front?

  • 1a

    Votes: 2 66.7%
  • 1b

    Votes: 1 33.3%
  • 2

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    3
  • Poll closed .

NateDav

Yamadori
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Spring time is here and I was finally able to begin styling this very overgrown and extremely root bound material. I forgot to get pictures of the root work, but I can tell you it was the most intense work I've done in my 12 years of bonsai. The surface was 2 inches of plant debris and muck and the entire 7 gallon nursery pots was just roots. So after an entire afternoon of careful examination and removal of circling and other problematic root structures, it was finally fit into an 8 inch training pot.
20190216_170404_HDR.jpg
The following day I began with branch/truck selection and spent entirely too much time sawing, cutting and premonising its potential future design.
I have three pictures of its potential fronts, the first two are the same side but with slightly different growing angles. And the last is the opposite side or current backside.
1a)
20190217_100327.jpg
1b)
20190217_100312.jpg
2)
20190217_100418.jpg

I'm fond of the back as the plant has better flow as far as apex and branching, the nebari is good too. The current front has the better nebari IMO and multiple trunks. If I use this front I envision multiple apices 3-5 to create the canopy and will need to grow all of the side branches. It has a crossing branch, which will stay for now. I like it for its counter movement and feel it gives more balance to the plant. It may come off in the future.

Thoughts and suggestions?

**Side note** I'vebeen growing this plant for 8 years and have only done annual thinking to open it up and allow light for growth. I will provide measurements when I can find a tape measure.
Cheers!
 

cbroad

Omono
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Can't tell much difference between 1a and 1b, but I guess 1b gives a little better shot of the far right root. I don't like 2 as a front because of that thicker branch, it's blocking the movement of the smaller trunks.

Awesome tree though! I have 4 heeled into the ground that I rescued from a client's house; I need to get them cleaned up...
 

NateDav

Yamadori
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Can't tell much difference between 1a and 1b, but I guess 1b gives a little better shot of the far right root. I don't like 2 as a front because of that thicker branch, it's blocking the movement of the smaller trunks.

Awesome tree though! I have 4 heeled into the ground that I rescued from a client's house; I need to get them cleaned up...

Cbroad I agree with you about the rear of the tree and the branch blocking view of other trunks. If that were the chosen side, I would style as an informal upright or a slanting style. The second gives a little more depth to the nebari, very subtle change.
 

Dav4

Drop Branch Murphy
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Choppy beat me to it. Yaupon bud back extremely well, and reducing the length of those taperless branches will set you up to get some taper over the next few years AND really highlight that nice, thick trunk.
 

NateDav

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I would cut it back much more

View attachment 227773

Choppy beat me to it. Yaupon bud back extremely well, and reducing the length of those taperless branches will set you up to get some taper over the next few years AND really highlight that nice, thick trunk.

Yeah, I thought about that as well. Cutting back further will definitely help with creating taper. Yaupon definitely bud on old wood reliably. I may cut back further in the next day or two.
 

NateDav

Yamadori
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Decided to cut back further and then take a few measurements. In a few years should start to look like something other than a stump. Going to wait a few weeks till the buds start to push and then fertilize with some organic pellets 12-4-5. Will post more pictures after if flushes out.

Front)
20190218_102139.jpg

Left)
20190218_102151_HDR.jpg)

Back)
20190218_102209_HDR.jpg

Right)
20190218_102218_HDR.jpg

Measurements)
20190218_101756_HDR.jpg
20190218_101939.jpg

I was pretty tempted to cut back another half inch to make the nebari match the current height.

Anyways, I'll update later.
 

Hyn Patty

Shohin
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Oh my goodness this is going to be an awesome tree. I definitely want to follow your progression. Nice cut back.
 

MHBonsai

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Decided to cut back further and then take a few measurements. In a few years should start to look like something other than a stump. Going to wait a few weeks till the buds start to push and then fertilize with some organic pellets 12-4-5. Will post more pictures after if flushes out.

Front)
View attachment 228025




I was pretty tempted to cut back another half inch to make the nebari match the current height.

Anyways, I'll update later.

Great job on the cutback. What an awesome foundation to work with. I think this is your front.

I'd leave the stubs like they are and see where it pushes buds. Carve back mid summer after you get some growth and see what the tree's gonna do.

Nice!
 

Joe Dupre'

Omono
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Awesome find! Most of your work is done with that nice trunk. It should look great at the end of this summer, and exceptional in two to three growing seasons.
 

rockm

Spuds Moyogi
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Decided to cut back further and then take a few measurements. In a few years should start to look like something other than a stump. Going to wait a few weeks till the buds start to push and then fertilize with some organic pellets 12-4-5. Will post more pictures after if flushes out.

Front)
View attachment 228025

Left)
View attachment 228023)

Back)
View attachment 228024

Right)
View attachment 228022

Measurements)
View attachment 228027
View attachment 228026

I was pretty tempted to cut back another half inch to make the nebari match the current height.

Anyways, I'll update later.
MUCH MUCH better!
 

NateDav

Yamadori
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July update.
I pruned back some dead stubs today and thinned out some crossing/inward growing branches. I found a black glazed container in my shed, slipped it in. Now its in early morning sun, dappled midday and evening sun. It still has a ways to go.
 

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NateDav

Yamadori
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nice looking trunk on that one, it's going to be a great tree in a couple years. They do like to grow straight as a board so lots of wiring or clip and grow in the future.
Yes, they do. I'm very much into clip 'n grow with occasional guide wire as the branches are brittle.
 
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