Yew or hemlock?

[leatherback]

I find that the machine is perhaps less important than the tool you put in it. I have both. I find I prefer the dremel over the makita, as the makita is tricky to operate. A good aggressive bit and taking a little time is more important than a heavy engine.

I find the bonsai nibblers to be great for large volume carving.

 

[Hbhaska]

I find that the machine is perhaps less important than the tool you put in it. I have both. I find I prefer the dremel over the makita, as the makita is tricky to operate. A good aggressive bit and taking a little time is more important than a heavy engine.

I find the bonsai nibblers to be great for large volume carving.

Thank you

A dremel and a good quality bit is all I want for Christmas. I think my wife already knows.

 

[leatherback]

a good quality bit

You might need to be more specific. Loads of good quality bits that clog up in fresh wood..

 

[Hbhaska]

You might need to be more specific. Loads of good quality bits that clog up in fresh wood..

How about one of these-

Burrs

Kutzall burrs are the perfect companions for your rotary carving tools. Our burrs are available in a variety of coating and shape combinations, allowing you to select the perfect burr for the job. The shape palate includes ball nose, cylinder, dove tail, flame, rotor saw, sphere, and taper...

kutzall.com

 

[Hbhaska]

After lime-sulfur treatment ( 2 days ago).

 

[Hbhaska]

Spring (05/07/2021) update and question:
The yew was further styled - branches pruned and brought closer to the trunk over late winter and now its budding and sprouting new foliage like crazy. My concern is that the new foliage now seems to have much longer leaves (2-3x long), light green in color and not very attractive compared to the dark green, small foliage. What could be happening? Do I prune off these new foliage to back bud with smaller foliage or let it grow? Thanks

 

[Japonicus]

The lighter new growth will turn dark as it hardens off.

Taxus/ Yew Bonsai – Bonsai4Me

www.bonsai4me.com

"PRUNING New growth needs to be plucked out during the growing season. However to retain fruits, do not pinch out after flowering in Spring. Hard pruning and branch pruning should be carried out in Autumn.
To encourage back-budding, pinch out 2 or 3 year old needles in late-Autumn. This will nearly always result in the stimulation of new buds in Spring at the points where needles were plucked."
From bonsai4me species guide.

Other than this I know very little about their cultivation. I only have one Japanese yew, and the new growth is
this light in colour, but not extra long, at least not yet. Seems frost sensitive after new growth emerges
with the one I have.

 

[leatherback]

The leaves get longer if there is lots of water & nitrogen available.

 

[Hbhaska]

The lighter new growth will turn dark as it hardens off.

Taxus/ Yew Bonsai – Bonsai4Me

www.bonsai4me.com

"PRUNING New growth needs to be plucked out during the growing season. However to retain fruits, do not pinch out after flowering in Spring. Hard pruning and branch pruning should be carried out in Autumn.
To encourage back-budding, pinch out 2 or 3 year old needles in late-Autumn. This will nearly always result in the stimulation of new buds in Spring at the points where needles were plucked."
From bonsai4me species guide.

Other than this I know very little about their cultivation. I only have one Japanese yew, and the new growth is
this light in colour, but not extra long, at least not yet. Seems frost sensitive after new growth emerges
with the one I have.

Thank you for posting this useful information.

 

[Hbhaska]

July 5th 2022 update: lots of growth happened since last styling. The overgrown tree was trimmed, wired and styled to get the branches close to the trunk. Here’s before and after.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Training looks pretty good. However whoever "carved" before you got did lousy job. Looks too smooth/unnatural like wind polished sandstone. Needs years of weathering or good redo/removal.

 

[Hbhaska]

Feb-5-23 update:

Growing well. Will wire and prune again this growing season.

 

[Hbhaska]

May 1st, 2023 update: removed the wires. Starting to explode with fresh foliage. Will fertilize well and cut back, wire and set pads in a few weeks.