Lorax7 Ash #1 progression

[Lorax7]

Ash tree that I got from the local bonsai club’s annual silent auction. Here it is in 2020, although I don’t seem to have a picture of the whole thing:



It had a cut about 1/3 of the way through the trunk down low toward the base from its previous life before it came to me. I decided to air layer above that cut the section of trunk that I thought was interesting. I think the layer was successful but it’s hard to tell this time of year when the leaves drop if it’s just fall behavior or evidence of struggle. Will find out for sure in spring. Here’s the air layer after harvest.


Side view:

 

[Lorax7]

Anyone made a bonsai out of one of these before? I’m curious about whether or not the leaves will ultimately reduce with ramification.

 

[Crawforde]

I have a couple young ones, and one about the size of yours. Mine are green ash, so might have smaller leaves than yours already.
after pruning, or on cuttings I get small simple leaves, but then with vigor the large compound leaves return. The new leaves are red and pretty so I bet a developed tree would look nice after a defoliation.
I don’t know how well they ramify, or if the leaves reduce much when they do as mine are still in the rapid grow out and up phase.

 

[Lorax7]

I have a couple young ones, and one about the size of yours. Mine are green ash, so might have smaller leaves than yours already.
after pruning, or on cuttings I get small simple leaves, but then with vigor the large compound leaves return. The new leaves are red and pretty so I bet a developed tree would look nice after a defoliation.
I don’t know how well they ramify, or if the leaves reduce much when they do as mine are still in the rapid grow out and up phase.

Sounds like we’re both running the same experiment

 

[Lorax7]

Spring 2022:

 

[Crawforde]

Nice. I will take some pictures tomorrow.
i think my big one is vigorous enough to try and air layer the top off of it. I hope so as the base isn’t very nice, but with a. Angle change and some growth/ carving it might work out.

 

[Lorax7]

Did a bit of branch selection and thinning of the canopy. Working towards getting this tree ramified enough to get an idea of what size leaves I’m going to ultimately be dealing with when they’ve reduced as much as they’re going to reduce.

 

[Crawforde]

Nice.
I still need to take pics of mine.
I really hope the leaves will reduce and the leaf colors are nice and change throughout the year (even in Florida) and they are vigorous growers.

 

[DavidBoren]

Can we get some recent pictures of this?

I have a little Oregon Ash, so I am curious...

 

[Lorax7]

Can we get some recent pictures of this?

I have a little Oregon Ash, so I am curious...

The most recent set of photos in this thread is from only 2 1/2 weeks ago. It doesn’t look much different now.

 

[Lorax7]

Carved out the wounds to make them smooth: