Twin trunk Oregon Ash...

[DavidBoren]

I was clearing the ivy/blackberry bushes off my fence, and found a seven foot Ash tree growing in there!

It has an interesting first branch/twin trunk thing going on, and good movement down low. I gave it what is likely its first ever intentional ferilizer and watering.


So the obvious question is, when will be the best time to dig this thing up and stick it in a training pot?

 

[19Mateo83]

Honestly I would pass on it. It’s a very difficult species to make work for bonsai. It will however make a nice landscape tree.

 

[DavidBoren]

I was just in my back yard thinking it is in a good spot for a tree, and an Ash will likely live longer than any of the other trees in my back yard [assuming the EAB doesn't kill it]. I think I'll leave it there.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Except trees right there above already and Ash right up against fence. Cut back to manageble size now, dig late Winter before growth time. Tree will bud back from older bark. Will need to cut back roots pretty severely to get into any container but "should" survive. Oregon Ash likes H2O but not muddy feet like Cypress.

 

[DavidBoren]

Here's a fun update...

This thing sprouted a three-branched mutant trunk near the base, so I slowly cut away everything that was not this three-branched mutant. The mutant trunk was clearly the tree's lowest priority... and I kind if had to force the tree to focus on growing the mutant, not other less exciting stuff like normal trunks with boring opposed branches.

Then I split two cheap planter pots to encase the base, with sort of a ground level air layer type thing... this arrangement should keep any new [non-mutant] shoots from sprouting up, and allow the mutant to establish its own roots within the pot. Late next spring, I can saw directly under the pot, freeing my mutant from its old roots... to begin its new life in a pot. Probably put it in a new pot, under the eave of the house... right by my other ash tree in a pot.