A Delivery to the Garden... 6 new large Crape Myrtles...

[onlyrey]

Sorry to jump on your threat like this. But is there a particular cultivar of crape myrtle that you prefer for bonsai? I am thinking nice bark / nebari forming / relative small leaves combination?

I've got one in training that made through a lot of harship and somehow managed to make it in relative good condition to my backyard. I think the leave size wasn't small at all, but I liked that the shape had potential. Here it is:

 

[ColinFraser]

Yesterday I received a delivery in the garden... 6 balled and burlapped large Crape Myrtles.

2 Natchez, 2 Tuskogee, 1 Dynamite, 1 Choctaw

Just going to heal these in for now...plan to start working them in the Spring.

The nursery man seemed a little upset about my plans for them...kringed some when I told him I would be making bonsai. I was able to offer him a new perspective about bonsai by sharing my garden with him. After that his tuned changed completely...even offered to show me some things at the nursery next time that he thought would make great bonsai.

Very nice . I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with them.
I'm also a fan of buying more than one of something when you find an opportunity.

 

[jeanluc83]

Nice! Are you planning on bare rooting them in the spring or remove the native soil over a few years?

 

[Bunjeh]

Every time I move one of my larger trees, I whisper to myself "no more big trees, no more big trees". I don't know what to say except I wish you luck with whatever lower torso soft tissue injuries you may incur moving those beasts. Seriously looking forward to their to their progressions.

Amen. I owe hernia surgery to 20 gallon Quercus Robur.

 

[JoeR]

Sorry to jump on your threat like this. But is there a particular cultivar of crape myrtle that you prefer for bonsai? I am thinking nice bark / nebari forming / relative small leaves combination?

I've got one in training that made through a lot of harship and somehow managed to make it in relative good condition to my backyard. I think the leave size wasn't small at all, but I liked that the shape had potential. Here it is:

View attachment 90658

I really like this one

 

[johng]

Sorry to jump on your threat like this. But is there a particular cultivar of crape myrtle that you prefer for bonsai? I am thinking nice bark / nebari forming / relative small leaves combination?

I've got one in training that made through a lot of harship and somehow managed to make it in relative good condition to my backyard. I think the leave size wasn't small at all, but I liked that the shape had potential. Here it is:

View attachment 90658

That is looking good...nice movement and good taper. Although some varieties, like Natchez, will do better in a larger scale...I think most varieties are of potential use for bonsai. I like the dwarfs for smaller scale trees.

Twightwad is one of my favorites...small dark foliage and deep pink bloom...good for med to small trees.
Maybe someday I will have one worth showing.

 

[johng]

Nice! Are you planning on bare rooting them in the spring or remove the native soil over a few years?

When I start, I will be drastically pruning the roots and the branches....enough to get them into a grow container...removing all soil. Will see how many get done this Spring?? I think it is going to be a challenge! clay and rocks Going to kill a few saw blades

 

[GrimLore]

Will see how many get done this Spring??

You are slacking John! You got these LAST YEAR

Grimmy

 

[johng]

Worked on the first two this weekend...

Holy crap it was a lot of work!!!
after getting it out of the ground and reduce the root ball by 3/4.

After more than 6 hours of work!

Perhaps if I recover by next weekend, I'll do a couple more

 

[GrimLore]

Perhaps if I recover by next weekend, I'll do a couple more

Getting younger has its draw backs Serious though, good work, and looking "pro".

Grimmy

 

[Dav4]

I read your blog post on these...you're gonna need to buy your saw blades in bulk! Keep up the good work.

 

[johng]

I read your blog post on these...you're gonna need to buy your saw blades in bulk! Keep up the good work.

Yeah...it is not surprising that after 5 minutes of use in a root ball full of clay and rocks that the teeth on the pruning blade were completely rounded...went through a pack of 5 blades on the root ball of one tree..

 

[MauroUna]

Hey John,

Quick question! Had these started budding out yet?

 

[johng]

Hey John,

Quick question! Had these started budding out yet?

The two I worked on had started budding. 2 of the 4 left still are not moving yet and I will wait to work on those until the buds are moving.

 

[Don Blackmond]

I've done quite a few large burlap nursery trees, mostly beech, bald cypress and dawn redwood. I can testify to the time and effort involved. I've often said, "never again, its not worth it," yet somehow it happens again and sometimes its worth it. I have a 98hp tracked skidloader so moving them is a little easier. One thing I've found that works well to start reducing these huge nursery rootballs is to use my skidloader to raise the rootball about 6' off the ground then drop it. A lot of the clay comes off and a lot of the soil loosens. Its still a mess of work from that point on, but it does replace muscle with machine for a good portion..... Good luck.

 

[Wee]

John....Can I ask where you get these large grow containers from.....? I guess I must be a little strange....I enjoy collecting large stock and don't mind cutting it down to size....Wiring and styling not so much.

Brian

 

[johng]

I've done quite a few large burlap nursery trees, mostly beech, bald cypress and dawn redwood. I can testify to the time and effort involved. I've often said, "never again, its not worth it," yet somehow it happens again and sometimes its worth it. I have a 98hp tracked skidloader so moving them is a little easier. One thing I've found that works well to start reducing these huge nursery rootballs is to use my skidloader to raise the rootball about 6' off the ground then drop it. A lot of the clay comes off and a lot of the soil loosens. Its still a mess of work from that point on, but it does replace muscle with machine for a good portion..... Good luck.

Good Stuff Don....just wish I had a similar tractor!

 

[johng]

John....Can I ask where you get these large grow containers from.....? I guess I must be a little strange....I enjoy collecting large stock and don't mind cutting it down to size....Wiring and styling not so much.

Brian

Hey Brian!
Here is what I used for this project...
http://www.lowes.com/pd_93171-1569-PP2607___?productId=1112805&pl=1&Ntt=pond+half+barrell+liner
and I drilled my own holes....these are much more sturdy than the mortar mixing containers.

 

[j evans]

Nice trees, nice work but it makes me hurt just looking at the pictures. My hat is off to you for your ambition.

Jamie

 

[johng]

All 6 have now been drastically pruned and repotted...glad to have that monkey off my back!

Here is a photo of the second two I worked on...both Natchez. These photos are from are from about 20 days ago...these are covered in buds now!

Here is a pic of the new growth on one of the first ones I did (May3)...the shoots now are over 2' long!

I still need to take photos of the 5th and 6th ones.