Cattwooduk
Shohin
Right I've come across this tree which is growing as a collection of trunks. I cut them all back so I've got 2 options.
First option is to let the piece I left taller sprout lots of new growth and then air layer below it later in the year. If I do this I'll put more of an angled cut at the top.
Second option is to cut it lower like the others and dig the whole thing up. Again I need to cut them slightly lower with angled cuts I think.
I'm liking the idea of making something out of the whole thing but I haven't done much looking into how to make a good bonsai out of something so multi-trunked, is this even possible? I'm thinking cut away the couple of really thin bits and maybe even take out the one second from the left as it's pretty much up against the other trunk.
Is splitting the whole thing in half or dividing it up to get one good trunk out of it a possibility, or will having big wounds at ground level just kill it off?
Just been looking around out the back of my grandparents and found some bits and pieces which might be worth using.
There is a 15ft silver birch which they want removed, so I'm going to cut it right back to the lowest branch - I've already cut that back to encourage closer new growth and then air layer it below the branch. If it works as planned I should end up with a trunk about 4-5 inches thick with a new leader in place and some fresh closer shoots on top to power it after removal.
I originally thought I could cut the whole thing down to a stump and dig it out (fat 7-8inch trunk at the base) but it's right in the middle of a dense hedge so it took an hour of clearing to just get near the trunk and see whats what. No chance of digging it out!
I'll add a picture of the tree when I'm next there.
Any critique welcome as I'm still learning about what's good potential material to dig up! Next time I go I'm going to have a good wander round and take lots more pictures. Hopefully something there will be good starter stumps!
First option is to let the piece I left taller sprout lots of new growth and then air layer below it later in the year. If I do this I'll put more of an angled cut at the top.
Second option is to cut it lower like the others and dig the whole thing up. Again I need to cut them slightly lower with angled cuts I think.
I'm liking the idea of making something out of the whole thing but I haven't done much looking into how to make a good bonsai out of something so multi-trunked, is this even possible? I'm thinking cut away the couple of really thin bits and maybe even take out the one second from the left as it's pretty much up against the other trunk.
Is splitting the whole thing in half or dividing it up to get one good trunk out of it a possibility, or will having big wounds at ground level just kill it off?
Just been looking around out the back of my grandparents and found some bits and pieces which might be worth using.
There is a 15ft silver birch which they want removed, so I'm going to cut it right back to the lowest branch - I've already cut that back to encourage closer new growth and then air layer it below the branch. If it works as planned I should end up with a trunk about 4-5 inches thick with a new leader in place and some fresh closer shoots on top to power it after removal.
I originally thought I could cut the whole thing down to a stump and dig it out (fat 7-8inch trunk at the base) but it's right in the middle of a dense hedge so it took an hour of clearing to just get near the trunk and see whats what. No chance of digging it out!
I'll add a picture of the tree when I'm next there.
Any critique welcome as I'm still learning about what's good potential material to dig up! Next time I go I'm going to have a good wander round and take lots more pictures. Hopefully something there will be good starter stumps!