The "Wake Up Vance Wood" Post or My Attempt at Mame

[Vin]

We are all mostly watering and waiting for summer to be over. Not much to talk about.

I agree completely! I am loaded with new pots, bonsai soil and material but I'm in limbo as far as doing anything until January at the earliest. I just keep pulling weeds...

 

[M. Frary]

You guys and your way with words...Mike you totally dumbfounded me. No clue what is cooking.

I'm sorry Darlene. But from the last few posts from Vance and reading between the lines we may or may not hear from Vance for a while or maybe never again. Who knows? Only the man himself.
Getting back to the tree in the thread. I have 3 of these. My question is will the leaves reduce much on these trees Vin?

 

[Vin]

My question is will the leaves reduce much on these trees Vin?

I have been pinching since around April on several. I have not seen any reduction as of yet but I'm told they will in time. I recently was told about another technique to reduce leaves that I'm going to try on some of the other boxwoods I have and see what happens. I also have a Buxus harlandii with perfect size leaves but no trunk. I wonder if grafting would work? It's just not time yet for this one as I want to get some more branch structure over the trunk to form a more defined canopy.

 

[M. Frary]

Is the leaf reduction technique the one Harry Harrington talks about in Bonsai4me? The defoliate except for the last 2 leaves?
I have a kings ville and the leaves are perfect but I moved this year and don't have a basement for it for the winter. It'll never make it outside where I live now I fear.

 

[Vin]

Yes Mike. Although I haven't read Harry Harrington's process I will now. Thanks!

 

[M. Frary]

Try it on yours and I'll give it a rip too. We'll see what happens. I'll maybe have to wait till next spring not sure. I believe it needs to be done when the active buds show up under the leaves. I guess I better read the article again. It's for ramification but fine twigs usually means fine leaves also.

 

[Vin]

Sounds like a deal!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I like Dario's idea for removing the highest dead wood, then let the rest grow out. Depending on how fast it grows for you, if it were mine, I would do no more trimming, pruning or styling this year or next year. Let it get some growth going. You need to get vigorous grow to cut back into, when you try to style it. If it were mine, I would leave it grow out until 2016 or 2017 before I did any further styling. But then again - I have enough other sticks in pots to mess with that I am currently behind on my summer chores, so it is easier for me to let things grow out. They just get set aside and forgotten about.

That is one cure for impatience with bonsai - get more trees - so you always have something that needs attention.

There are several species of boxwood. The one I have survives our winters fine, no protection from temperature, just under the bench out of sun and wind. (tarps over the bench). We had weeks of sub-zero, and a near record -17 F one night. I know "Kingsville" is not the hardy species. Most boxwood need protection from bitter cold. The one sold at landscape nurseries around Chicago, for landscape use is the hardy one, if yours came from a landscape nursery, or was growing as a landscape plant it will be hardy in your winters - with protection from wind and winter sun it will take your temperatures.

 

[KennedyMarx]

I like the base on it, but using that as the front makes those two branches cross each other in the top portion. Have you considered rotating the tree around for a new front? What does it look like from the back?

 

[Vin]

Have you considered rotating the tree around for a new front? What does it look like from the back?

Not so good in my opinion.

 

[Vance Wood]

Mike, I commented to Mr. Wood that although I only have "material" and not bonsai I was going to start posting what I have for critiques and suggestions. I don't know if that's a good idea or not but I'm going with it for now.

Thank You you are right I made you a commitment on that issue. It would be nice if others did the same. I do not do Box Wood. At one time I had a nice one but it died because I did not transplant it often enough. As to jin?? My opinion of the wood is that it is not rot resistant enough to become a good jin or shari. As to the trash? Nothing deserves to be thrown in the trash. Kill it by trying to make something of it but don't just throw it out.

 

[Vin]

Thank You you are right I made you a commitment on that issue. It would be nice if others did the same. I do not do Box Wood. At one time I had a nice one but it died because I did not transplant it often enough. As to jin?? My opinion of the wood is that it is not rot resistant enough to become a good jin or shari. As to the trash? Nothing deserves to be thrown in the trash. Kill it by trying to make something of it but don't just throw it out.

Vance, I know you are mostly a Mugo kinda guy but I do remember reading a post where you said you had some junipers. I've got plenty of them that I will be posting as well so your critiques will be appreciated. Also, I live by the "don't throw it away" philosophy. I'm a Plant Rat and I even keep them for months after they die just to make sure. I have a 3' tall cypress stump that never budded this year that's behind my shed still in a tub because I'm still hoping it may be alive. Of course I know how to check and see if it really is alive but there's no fun in that.

 

[Poink88]

Not so good in my opinion.

Your opinion might change after you remove the top deadwood. I just ask to keep an open mind and see how it changes from all angles as it progresses. I am not saying it will but it just might surprise you.

 

[Vin]

Your opinion might change after you remove the top deadwood. I just ask to keep an open mind and see how it changes from all angles as it progresses. I am not saying it will but it just might surprise you.

No worries, I'm very open minded. Once we get some of the deadwood removed and a full canopy a reevaluation will be in order - next year.

 

[Vance Wood]

With Junipers I might be able to help you but be advised; I do things with them that the currently accepted knowledge and wisdom says I should not do. Going there could be injurious to your health.

Shimpaku in trainging since 1996 club demo with 3 gallon nursery stock.

 

[Vin]

Removed some of the deadwood. Needs a little touch-up on the carving but it looks much better to me. I need to move that front branch about 45° to the left.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Removed some of the deadwood. Needs a little touch-up on the carving but it looks much better to me. I need to move that front branch about 45° to the left.

Very nice...good step you took with this mame.

 

[wlambeth]

Wake up Vance Wood?
Someone once told me, don't pet the snake!

 

[Vin]

Wake up Vance Wood?
Someone once told me, don't pet the snake!

He knows what I mean and that it was not meant to insult. He's fine.

 

[Poink88]

Removed some of the deadwood. Needs a little touch-up on the carving but it looks much better to me. I need to move that front branch about 45° to the left.

Looks so much better now. Good job! Time to give it some rest.