Old Boxwood - Need Help

[Defect]

Hello,

As the title says I am in need of some advice. I planted this tree in the ground some time ago at my parents place. Over the years it has been somewhat neglected and will continue to be neglected as I can only get here once every few months. I would like to get it out of the ground and start training once it gets healthy.

My question would be, should I leave it for the optimal time to dig it up or dig it now and start proper care? This tree I believe has some great potential.


Thank you.

 

[sixemkay]

Is the worst of the summer heat over for you in Santa Cruz? Or are you more like SF with a very hot September and October?

 

[Defect]

Still gonna get pretty warm here in Santa Cruz. Although where this tree is going to end up once dug, will be a lot cooler then here.

 

[sixemkay]

I’m thinking you should leave it until Spring. It has survived for years in those conditions, unless you expect it to be much different this year, it should continue to live for the next 6 months or so.

If you have reason to fear a fire will come through this year, then get it now, but otherwise let it keep growing in the ground.

 

[Defect]

Probably best for the tree to do that I assume.

Thanks

 

[Maloghurst]

Nice potential in the this tree.
I’m curious how long you’ve been growing this? Box woods take awhile to get that thickness.
Was this collected originally?
Most boxwoods are styled like informal broom or oak style because it takes forever to build taper and heal wounds. So the tree is trained with upward growing branches from a stump.
I would come back late winter and cut it to about 4-8 inches and collect at the same time or leave in the ground for another 1-2 years after cutting

 

[Maloghurst]

Here is a good thread of an old boxwood oak style from @rockm.

Boxwood literati

This was a former hedge boxwood. Dug from a Maryland backyard. Got it about ten years ago at an auction. Basic style was set, but it was kept too full. I've worked it down a bit into an image of the broken topped oaks you see at higher elevations in the Blue Ridge. Used to see a few of those old...

www.bonsainut.com

 

[sorce]

Sorce

 

[Defect]

Nice potential in the this tree.
I’m curious how long you’ve been growing this? Box woods take awhile to get that thickness.
Was this collected originally?
Most boxwoods are styled like informal broom or oak style because it takes forever to build taper and heal wounds. So the tree is trained with upward growing branches from a stump.
I would come back late winter and cut it to about 4-8 inches and collect at the same time or leave in the ground for another 1-2 years after cutting

Thanks for he reply

I bought it from a gentleman about 8 years ago. He said it was around 30 years old maybe more. He had been growing it in a large pot for quite a while specifically with bonsai in mind.

I planned on cutting it down to around 15-20 inches. The tree as it stands now is about 40 inches. Why would you recommend cutting it down so much?

Thanks

 

[misfit11]

I collected my Boxwoods in the Spring. I think it's best to wait until then if at all possible. If it's healthy you can cut it down to that 15-20 inch height you were planning on and it should pop buds all over. You'll have to do some carving at the chop site in order to have it be convincing. Boxwoods put on girth very slowly (especially so in a pot) and you're not going to heal the chop scar in this lifetime.
Plant it in a container just bigger than the rootball in bonsai soil. Don't do any styling until you've seen strong growth for a good period of time. I was able to do the first styling on mine that fall only because it grew very strongly. You may need to wait until the following year. Good luck and keep us posted!

Collected Boxwoods

I collected these boxwoods from the front of my house recently. They had previously been part of a hedge. Since I abhor geometrically shaped vegetation, when I bought my house I knew this feature would be going away. I did feel, however, that some of the shrubs could make potentially nice...

www.bonsainut.com

 

[misfit11]

Here's a thread on one of my Boxwoods. They make great bonsai and are enjoyable to work on!

Boxwood

Here is one of the boxwoods I dug from my front yard hedgerow that I previously posted in this thread: http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?5017-Collected-Boxwoods . I repotted it in a workshop with Kathy Shaner last month. Obviously the branching needs refinement and will eventually get a...

www.bonsainut.com

 

[Maloghurst]

Thanks for he reply

I bought it from a gentleman about 8 years ago. He said it was around 30 years old maybe more. He had been growing it in a large pot for quite a while specifically with bonsai in mind.

I planned on cutting it down to around 15-20 inches. The tree as it stands now is about 40 inches. Why would you recommend cutting it down so much?

Thanks

I suggested lower chop as a option. It depends on the style you want. I also posted @rockm tall boxwood for inspiration as well. Tall might be better for your tree.
These are some pics of potential direction for your tree also. If the chop is lower you can train branches upward with movement in an oak style.
A 15” chop is pretty high but I really like @misfit11 trees as well.

 

[Defect]

I collected my Boxwoods in the Spring. I think it's best to wait until then if at all possible. If it's healthy you can cut it down to that 15-20 inch height you were planning on and it should pop buds all over. You'll have to do some carving at the chop site in order to have it be convincing. Boxwoods put on girth very slowly (especially so in a pot) and you're not going to heal the chop scar in this lifetime.
Plant it in a container just bigger than the rootball in bonsai soil. Don't do any styling until you've seen strong growth for a good period of time. I was able to do the first styling on mine that fall only because it grew very strongly. You may need to wait until the following year. Good luck and keep us posted!

Collected Boxwoods

I collected these boxwoods from the front of my house recently. They had previously been part of a hedge. Since I abhor geometrically shaped vegetation, when I bought my house I knew this feature would be going away. I did feel, however, that some of the shrubs could make potentially nice...

www.bonsainut.com

Oh boy those are some nice trees you got there. Thanks for the advice. I think I will wait until spring and chop and dig.

 

[Defect]

I suggested lower chop as a option. It depends on the style you want. I also posted @rockm tall boxwood for inspiration as well. Tall might be better for your tree.
These are some pics of potential direction for your tree also. If the chop is lower you can train branches upward with movement in an oak style.
A 15” chop is pretty high but I really like @misfit11 trees as well.
View attachment 261027View attachment 261028View attachment 261029

Ahhh....I see the direction you are talking about now. Makes sense.