Home Depot shohin Yew in it's final stage

october

Masterpiece
Messages
3,444
Reaction score
325
Location
Massachusetts
I found this yew 2-3 years ago at Home Depot. It was about $15. I noticed the natural shari and decided that something might be able to be done with it. This season, the tree came out of the grow pot, was planted on a different angle and some new branch choices were made. This is the smallest pot that the tree will be able to go in. Actually considering where it came from, this pot is pretty good. Also, the natural shari was refined by John Romano in a workshop.


Here is the progression.

pic 1 is the tree as purchased
Pic 2 is the tree styled and put in the grow pot
Pic 3 is about 2 years later. The tree put in the final pot and pushing new growth
Pics 4 and 5 are the tree after some fresh pinching a little bit more wiring
 

Attachments

  • yew1.JPG
    yew1.JPG
    52.8 KB · Views: 235
  • IMG_4890.jpg
    IMG_4890.jpg
    183.8 KB · Views: 222
  • Copy of pictures2 131.jpg
    Copy of pictures2 131.jpg
    193.4 KB · Views: 229
  • pictures2 017.jpg
    pictures2 017.jpg
    185.6 KB · Views: 228
  • pictures2 020.jpg
    pictures2 020.jpg
    187.2 KB · Views: 235

mrchips1952

Yamadori
Messages
82
Reaction score
0
Location
Colorado
Yew

Patience has it's rewards......very nice job. Great little tree. Dave in Colorado:D
 

october

Masterpiece
Messages
3,444
Reaction score
325
Location
Massachusetts
Thank you Dave from Colorado...It only took a little patience since the tree grows so fast.. Here is an example.. The first pic is after the initial styling, the second is about 1 1/2 years later.. An astronomical amount of growth..


Rob
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4890.jpg
    IMG_4890.jpg
    183.8 KB · Views: 140
  • yew3.jpg
    yew3.jpg
    181.8 KB · Views: 154

bonsai barry

Omono
Messages
1,374
Reaction score
58
Location
Cental Coast of California
USDA Zone
9
Patience? I was thinking just the opposite. I was thinking, "!@#$%^& ... Why can't I grow a tree out like that in just two years!"
 

monza

Shohin
Messages
384
Reaction score
11
Location
Alberta, Canada
USDA Zone
3
It had just finally started to sink in, quality stock only and I finally was able to go to a Home Depot and not go look at every trees truck... you post that! Nice little tree.
 

woodguy

Mame
Messages
160
Reaction score
2
Location
Trumbull, ct
USDA Zone
6a
Nice tree. Good example of what can be done with inexpensive material. It's for little gems like this I still have to look when I'm at place like that. Even you need to look through a lot of crap to find something like this. Great find.
 

evmibo

Shohin
Messages
474
Reaction score
134
Location
Fort Myers, FL
USDA Zone
10a
What size wire did you use on the tree? Also, how long did you keep it on in that 1.5 year growout period?

Great work man.
 
Last edited:

october

Masterpiece
Messages
3,444
Reaction score
325
Location
Massachusetts
Thanks everyone for the comments

Hello bonsai barry... I was amazed myself by the growth rate. It grew branches that were around 1 foot long and about 1/3 of an inch thick in a little over a year.

Hello monza, yup, you have to go through hundreds, literally, to find a good one sometimes... Sometimes I'll take a day and visit a bunch of garden centers, Lowes and home depots. Sometimes out of looking at about 500 trees you may not find 1. Then, other times, you are there for 2 minutes and something jumps out at you. The natural shari and single trunk on this one caught my eye. It didn't really matter what the rest looked like. It had a great trunk and it was a yew so it would grow from eveywhere.

Hello woodguy..ya, you are correct about a lot of crap.. I swear that there has been times I have looked at 500-600 trees is a day and came up with nothing.

Hello evmibo.. Well, I used aluminum wire for this. I tend to change my mind some times and sometimes want to augment my initial stylings so the aluminum is more forgiving.. As far as wire, I think I used 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 gauges. I can't pin point the time the wire was on. However, this tree grows very fast. It is a good idea to check this tree about every 4 weeks, sometimes less.

Rob
 

akhater

Shohin
Messages
482
Reaction score
152
Location
Lebanon
USDA Zone
9
WOW highly inspirational ! I wish I could have in 10years what you had in pic 2 :D (After your initial styling) I'd be happy with it
 

october

Masterpiece
Messages
3,444
Reaction score
325
Location
Massachusetts
Thank you very much akhater.. I have to say, that at one point, I was unsure about this tree's future. However, I made some changes to the initial style. Just this season, I chose new branches and gave it a different planting angle. Actually, it was after these things and the tree growing new buds everywhere that made me see it's true potential.

Here is one more pic
 

Attachments

  • pictures2 029.jpg
    pictures2 029.jpg
    182.3 KB · Views: 114

amkhalid

Chumono
Messages
667
Reaction score
261
Location
Toronto
USDA Zone
6A
Congratulations on producing a lovely bonsai. Your really have great technique, and always bring out the best in the material.
 

jferrier

Mame
Messages
199
Reaction score
41
Location
Washougal, WA
USDA Zone
7
Sweet little tree. What a wonderful transformation. I'm glad to see that there are others that believe that nice bonsai can originate from anywhere and doesn't have to be an expensive "pre-bonsai" from a bonsai nursery.
 

Alex DeRuiter

Chumono
Messages
965
Reaction score
10
Location
Grand Rapids, MI
USDA Zone
5b
This gives me a lot of hope that I may be able to find a good tree at a department store. Everything I come across at places like Lowes and Menards seems to be poor stock, but perhaps I haven't been looking hard enough. Thanks for posting :)
 
Last edited:

treebeard55

Chumono
Messages
762
Reaction score
88
Location
north-central Indiana, USA
USDA Zone
5A
Axxon, you can find decent raw material at general-purpose nurseries, but be prepared to look hard. In my experience, one good find in 100 visits is about par for the course. Remember that growers for the landscaping industry aren't interested in compactness, taper, low branching, everything we're after!

I've found it worthwhile to ask to see their "setback/hospital area:" where they keep the shrubs and trees that haven't sold for a couple of years, and also where they keep anything that's recovering from trauma or disease.

When plants don't sell for landscaping, it's sometimes because of features that are desirable for bonsai.

I'd stay away from anything diseased, but trees that have suffered mechanical damage (careless pickup driver, for example) sometimes make good bonsai stock.

Either way, plants in such a section can often be had for a discount.
 

rockm

Spuds Moyogi
Messages
14,181
Reaction score
22,178
Location
Fairfax Va.
USDA Zone
7
Best time to shop upscale nurseries is in early to mid autumn. They're looking to unload trees that were damaged in the summer, or trees they don't want to pay to overwinter. I've picked up $400 maples for $25--the only "damage" was sunscalded leaves that made the tree look dead (and unsellable) to Harry Homeowner. It was fine the next spring.

BTW, no one ever said (and as this cool little tree proves) good material can't be found. It can, but like 'beard said, it can take a lot of visits and more than a bit of luck.
 

Alex DeRuiter

Chumono
Messages
965
Reaction score
10
Location
Grand Rapids, MI
USDA Zone
5b
Steve, thank you for the advice! That's a really good idea. I remember someone telling me about a private nursery near me that sells landscape trees, but some of his trees were hit with herbicide and it stunted their growth quite a bit. Come to find out they're these really nice wisterias with incredible taper, so I'll be picking up a few of them soon.

I never actually thought about asking to see the recovery section though -- thank you :D

Rockm, I've noticed that too. I've gotten some trees on a significant markdown -- sometimes up to 80% -- in the fall. I'll be expanding my nursery search this year to find some good stuff.

I'd consider one in one hundred to be worth it ;)
 

october

Masterpiece
Messages
3,444
Reaction score
325
Location
Massachusetts
You will usually have better luck at independent garden centers and nurseries rather than chain stores... This Hinoki came for a local independent garden center 9 years ago. It has been in training ever since.

Rob
 

Attachments

  • pictures2 082.jpg
    pictures2 082.jpg
    189 KB · Views: 65

october

Masterpiece
Messages
3,444
Reaction score
325
Location
Massachusetts
p.s. This one came from Lowes.. A yellow tag Fall special for like $7. I have been training it for about 4 years. I recently cut the top off and I am in the process of growing a new apex.
 

Attachments

  • pictures2 017.jpg
    pictures2 017.jpg
    187.9 KB · Views: 64
Last edited:

Joedes3

Shohin
Messages
404
Reaction score
21
Location
Boston, MA
USDA Zone
6
What is the best time of the year to trim a yew as much as you did? I live in the Boston area, zone 6.
Joe
 
Top Bottom