Privet 2 Years from Collection

[Chris Johnston]

Here's a look at a privet I collected in 2009:

http://bonsaikc.com/2011/04/29/collected-privet-urban-yamadori/

 

[Bill S]

This will make a nice fat little tree Chris, and jeez what a no brainer, oh no Suthin I don't want you to help w/ my tree.

 

[Chris Johnston]

Thanks Bill, I wish more of them were actually this fat at the base, but the rest of the hedge seems to be multiple sticks coming up out of the ground.

 

[Bill S]

If it were that easy Chris, we'd all have a backyard full

 

[october]

I really like this tree.. What great proportions and form... What is the height and width?

 

[Bill S]

Rob by leaf size I'd guess 5-6" tall 1 1/2" wide, do tell Chris.

 

[Chris Johnston]

This tree is actually about 14-16 inches tall. The base is probably over six inches in diameter. I've never actually measured it!
Here's what it looked like when I dug it 2 years ago. At that time it was over 30 inches tall. You can see the leader I actually went with poking up from the V. Hard to believe what it's done since then.

 

[Chris Johnston]

I collected it from my yard April 1, 2009. It began to grow ferociously. Here are a few pics of the progression. The first three are from April through July of 2009.

 

[Chris Johnston]

Here's the front side of the tree, the first pic in the thread was the back. This was April 2011

 

[Chris Johnston]

Here's the tree taken yesterday, before and after defoliation and wiring. I've been amazed at how quickly it's developing.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Here's the tree taken yesterday, before and after defoliation and wiring. I've been amazed at how quickly it's developing.

It's a privet...no surprise at how quickly it's developing. You can defoliate them with a light misting of Round Up, and the consolation prize is that it delays the next round of pinching by a few hours...

Kidding aside, my problems with privet have been the punky wood rotting away and taking most of the tree with it. Having some deadwood already in the design, are you taking any extra steps to preserve it?

 

[Chris Johnston]

Minwax to the rescue, my friend! I've let it weather for a few months, now I'm going to brush it with a wire brush and paint with minwax wood hardener. Yeah, the privet has been a very pleasant surprise for me.

 

[mholt]

Very nice development. Good to know, regarding Minwax. I collected a couple massive ones from the yard this spring and was wondering about the punky wood once I begin carving away the multiple trunks.... as I've observed the rot-effect on the ones still there. These guys can take a punishment...I hacked the two down to a foot from about 12 feet, bare-rooted while leafing out and they simply responded with an abundance of growth.