Carved my raffle won Live Oak

[Poink88]

The screws...

Thanks. The jack on the left side was removed and the branch has set already. While at it, I also revised some of the wiring...

 

[fraser67]

Look up Archimedes...

 

[Poink88]

Look up Archimedes...

I know him well...since my elementary days but I am not sure in what context the message was. As I said, I opted for the best meaning I know.

 

[A Random User]

Today is my 2nd year bonsai anniversary and decided to post a few updates for some of my trees in training. (hope you don't mind)

Hey Dario,
somehow I missed this tree...
I really love the nabari it has, as well as the rugged bark.

The trunk is to long and either needs to be made to look shorter,
or needs to be actually cut shorter, which requires you to pretty
much start over. Which you probably will not want to do.

I would suggest that you bring the carving further down towards
the base on the trunk... This will do to things, it will break up all
the bark, which even though it is really cool, there is way to much
of to be seen at first glance, contributing to the feeling of being
very long.

It will also give a feeling of the tree forking off into
two distinct trunks giving more interest to the middle of your trunk.
If possible, I would also recommend carving the back side down a bit,
which then daylight will be seen through the two trunks.

This will also, help with the taper issue of the tree.
Hope this helps...


Also, happy 2nd year of doing Bonsai !!!

 

[A Random User]

Another thing...
Where you have the holes from the removal of branches...
Hard to tell from pic if they are carved... if not I would carve them
ever so slightly, so they are not gaping holes but slight indentures.
Then I would either paint them with a little watered down blackish /
brown paint, or use a little wood stain... which will give the feeling
of being holes...

 

[Poink88]

Thanks.

I am with you about the trunk too long. I've agonized about chopping it lower but I am not sure if it will re-sprout. That is the main reason why I kept the low right branch longer than I should.

I'll look into carving it more...I am definitely open for than. I also considered the split and then jack the left side away. For now, I will let it go one season to see how the branches develop. If I am happy with the resulting image, I might let it be (if my hands don't itch that is).

 

[ABCarve]

What about letting the whole thing get taller and proportionately wider as well as carving trunk?

 

[Dav4]

I didn't want to repot and it came in a shallower pot than I prefer so I made a sleeve to extend it up to put some soil cover over the roots. Soil will spill over when I water otherwise.

Archimedes would be proud.....

The screws...

I'm going with this ....http://search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0oG...quest.nasa.gov/aero/planetary/archimedes.html

 

[PaulH]

I think once the branches extend and the crown 3 - 4 times the size it is now you can make some very "oakie" hanging branches that will balance the trunk. Nice tree.
By the way, with all your creative apparatus your tree would make the perfect poster child for those who say we like to torture trees .

 

[Poink88]

It will he taller and wider. But that doesn't change the trunk proportions. ..it will actually make it look weaker.

 

[Poink88]

I think once the branches extend and the crown 3 - 4 times the size it is now you can make some very "oakie" hanging branches that will balance the trunk. Nice tree.
By the way, with all your creative apparatus your tree would make the perfect poster child for those who say we like to torture trees .

Paul,

Yes the top will be more than 4x (closer to 6x probably volume wise) when this is done. It will be wider than taller too.

 

[Poink88]

New shoots and leaves filled the canopy of this oak already. Much better than last year already.

 

[Dwight]

pictures ??????

 

[Vin]

Not sure what type of oak this is but I think I lost my window of opportunity to collect it this year. The bark is insane! Maybe next year

 

[Neli]

Why dont you trunk chop it, and collect next year?

 

[Poink88]

pictures ??????

Hopefully I can take some tomorrow.

 

[Vin]

Why dont you trunk chop it, and collect next year?

I can (it's way to tall anyway and has zero lower branching) but do you think it's okay to chop? It's in full leaf.

 

[Poink88]

I can (it's way to tall anyway and has zero lower branching) but do you think it's okay to chop? It's in full leaf.

Let it re-charge then chop this summer. For now, you can go around the main roots and gouge the sides near the base (I remove 1/4 the diameter per side using a chisel) ...hopefully encourage root growth already. You can also cut several of the smaller ones down to an inch or two...again hopefully encourage growth near the base. Back fill with loose soil, mound if you have to. Good luck!

 

[Vin]

Let it re-charge then chop this summer. For now, you can go around the main roots and gouge the sides near the base (I remove 1/4 the diameter per side using a chisel) ...hopefully encourage root growth already. You can also cut several of the smaller ones down to an inch or two...again hopefully encourage growth near the base. Back fill with loose soil, mound if you have to. Good luck!

Do you think it will produce any branches down toward the base?
The bark is at least 1/2" thick; probably more in some places.
I'll just leave it if it's a lost cause.

 

[Poink88]

Do you think it will produce any branches down toward the base?
The bark is at least 1/2" thick; probably more in some places.

I honestly do not know. BUT if you will collect and chop...the recommended approach of doing some of the work while it is still in the ground increases your chances of success.

FYI, my live oak's bark is near that thickness and the buds find a way to poke through...push the bark out if they need. I've removed several buds actually which I hope grew a bit higher and closer to the middle of the trunk...so I can re-chop.