Yew from Home Depot

[october]

**Updated pic on page 3**
Hello all, started this seasons tree work today. First is this yew originally purchased from Home Depot that I have been training for about 5 years. The pics make the tree look fuller than it is. However, I need to keep a decent amount of foliage on the branches because they are still fairly young. With the exception of the first branch, I grew most of the tree, including the branches, from buds or branchlets. Keeping a good amount of foliage ensures that the branches will continue to gain strength.

The first pic is the tree recently out of winter storage. The next are after about 4-5 hours of pruning and wiring.

For those interested, if you scroll down, you can see the 5 year progression of this tree.

Rob

 

[Beng]

Really nice work. I knew it was yours even before I scrolled back up to look who wrote the post.

 

[october]

Really nice work. I knew it was yours even before I scrolled back up to look who wrote the post.

Thanks Beng. If it's small, cheap and had a million problems to start with, it's probably mine..lol

 

[Beng]

Do you have a picture of where it started when you bought it as well?

When I finally start taking and uploading pics I won't have any progressions of my current trees sadly. I always forget to take pictures when working on new material, I guess it's the excitement of it... Will have to change that some day.

At a bonsai society of portland xmas auction one tree there came complete with a baby book. Showing years of progression photos. It gives you the history of the tree, nothing beats seeing how things evolve. We can all appreciate art, but seeing a street shrub turn into a masterpiece is exceptional!

 

[october]

Sure .Here is the 5 year progression.They only allow 5 pics, so I'll
have to do it in 2 replies

Pic 1 is as purchased.
Pic 2 The tree with about 75% removed
Pic 3 the tree put in a grow pot and the branch on the right removed.
Pic 4 is the tree after a little over a year. The tree grew tremendously.
Pic 5 The tree striped down again.


continued...

 

[october]

continued..

Pic 6 is last year.
Pic 7 current.

 

[Beng]

Great love the little jin. Do you sketch your trees prior to working them?

 

[Good_Ol_JR]

Nice Shohin Rob, think its time for a nice pot!

 

[october]

Great love the little jin. Do you sketch your trees prior to working them?

Not really, whenever I do a sketch, then actually get in there, the tree usually has different ideas..lol..

Rob

 

[october]

Nice Shohin Rob, think its time for a nice pot!

Thank you..Next year, the tree will be able to be repotted. Unfortunately, the tree cannot go into a smaller pot.. However, a nicer pot, yes.

Rob

 

[amkhalid]

Unfortunately, the tree cannot go into a smaller pot.
Rob

Why not? Is this because of watering requirements or thick roots? If it is a root thing, in my experience yews (cuspidata, at least) send out lots of new roots close to the trunk making it easy to remove massive taproots/buried trunks over time. Especially if you twist some wires around the thick roots a year or two in advance.

Beautiful tree. I do think it would benefit from a shallower pot, though.

 

[october]

Why not? Is this because of watering requirements or thick roots? If it is a root thing, in my experience yews (cuspidata, at least) send out lots of new roots close to the trunk making it easy to remove massive taproots/buried trunks over time. Especially if you twist some wires around the thick roots a year or two in advance.

Beautiful tree. I do think it would benefit from a shallower pot, though.

Thank you amkhalid. From what I remember a couple years ago, there is just the stump and some roots. Just getting into this pot was difficult. I think that the root ball has been reduced by about 80% already. To reduce anymore, you would have to cut the actual tree stump where all the fine roots eminate. Of course, on the next repot, I will thoroughly explore all the options and if I think it is safe, I will reduce further. I remember on the last repot thinking, I think this is going to be as shallow of a pot as this tree will ever get in. Then I thought, well, I bought this tree for around $30 at Home Depot, I guess we are doing pretty well.

Rob

 

[james]

Beautiful job. Nice progression. You will get to a more shallow pot in time, no need to rush.

 

[Nybonsai12]

I bought this tree for around $30 at Home Depot, I guess we are doing pretty well.

I'd say so! You really do great work. Thanks for sharing, I enjoy your threads.

 

[catfish chapstick]

I love it. Is it in a square pot?

 

[october]

I'd say so! You really do great work. Thanks for sharing, I enjoy your threads.

Thanks Ny..

 

[october]

I love it. Is it in a square pot?

Thanks.. Kind of a square, sort of rectangular.

Rob

 

[coh]

Nice progression - thanks for sharing! Looking forward to future developments...

Chris

 

[october]

Thanks Chris. Couple more years and I think this tree will be near finished.

 

[Dirty Nails]

Progrssion pics are my favorite. Nice work. What species yew is that? The only ones I have seen in box stores have been upright and I had read several posts about how they are impossible to train.