yamadori question

[leatherback]

So wait until early spring, or wait another year?

Considering it is mid-winter, your tree will not have regrown many roots. I would still cut it now. I am however not convinced it is a great idea to cut.

- The bark on the trunk seems damaged. It migh well die-back a bit; Let the tree sort itself out for now.
- The roots are too far out of the ground for my liking. When re-establishing I aim to have the full flare below-ground

 

[coachspinks]

So wait until early spring, or wait another year?

I think what he is saying that the movement involved in sawing it off right now will damage the roots further. I agree and would wait and see if and where buds pop and chop it off in a year.

 

[chicago1980]

So today is the first snow of winter and temperatures are starting to get colder. I pass by this stump on my morning commute into work. It was cut down to a stump this autumn because high winds took down most of the tree. I am thinking about collecting this stump for a bonsai. I'm pretty sure its a Green Hawthorn. I would like the opinions of someone more experienced: Is this stump a lost cause? If not, should I attempt a collection soon (when snow thaws), or wait till early spring? The tree is pushed over a bit so some roots are exposed to air, and by now is covered in snow. Thanks for looking!

pot in an have fun the 30 years!

 

[Lone Pine]

SPRING UPDATE:



Two weeks ago the shoot at the base of the trunk showed some signs of growth. I was beginning to think that the main trunk was a lost cause, until today, when I noticed four budding areas on the trunk itself. Pretty nifty! Waiting to see if more buds will pop higher up and on other side of the trunk, where there was obvious damage.

 

[LeftHandLuke]

Oh hell yeah!

 

[LeftHandLuke]

Two weeks ago the shoot at the base of the trunk showed some signs of growth. I was beginning to think that the main trunk was a lost cause, until today, when I noticed four budding areas on the trunk itself. Pretty nifty! Waiting to see if more buds will pop higher up and on other side of the trunk, where there was obvious damage.

How did this fare during the growing season? Would love an update.

 

[Zerobear]

I would rather see yellow line, done in spring or early summer. That gives the roots the winter to rest. I see potential in the base. After posting, I saw the budding photo. Hopefully you will see a nice place to cut the trunk back, an inch above the top buds.

 

[Lone Pine]

How did this fare during the growing season? Would love an update.

The first photo is from early summer 2021. Seemed to rebound pretty good! And the bare branch one is from the a couple days ago. I ended up nipping back the shoots coming from the roots, to try and divert that energy to the main trunk branches. But other than that I just tried to let it do its thing.

This year I may start some actual work as far as beginning a styling plan. To be honest I'm not sure where to begin. Should I be wiring the branches more horizontally, especially the lower ones? Also wondering if I should prune back the tall branches to aim for a more compact growth. I guess I should be sawing/carving the trunk back at some point. kinda unsure as when is a good time to begin with that. Perhaps carve back to hide the split line in a hollow tree design. something like this:



excited for this next growing season!

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Looks like the lower side branches will only serve to strengthen the tree, while the upper one’s may be most worthwhile for the future styling.

Recommend you scroll back on your thread to @Brian Van Fleet image and use this as a prototype.

Considering the above you might start off by doing some minor wiring to nudge the branches into the position you desire.… and leave the carving for later on this, or even next year.

cheers
DSD sends

 

[Lone Pine]

Looks like the lower side branches will only serve to strengthen the tree, while the upper one’s may be most worthwhile for the future styling.

Recommend you scroll back on your thread to @Brian Van Fleet image and use this as a prototype.

Considering the above you might start off by doing some minor wiring to nudge the branches into the position you desire.… and leave the carving for later on this, or even next year.

cheers
DSD sends

Yes, Brian's Hawthorne is stunning!
Would you recommend pruning back any of the branches for any reason, or best just to let them be?

 

[LeftHandLuke]

Right after I asked for an update I happened to notice you had a separate thread discussing the trunk split. In any case, it looks like there's a ton of opportunity for this tree... and to think that it was likely heading for the compost heap! Top notch job of saving a tree and advancing it toward bonsai. One thought -- and I only bring it up as an opportunity to share knowledge, and certainly not as criticism -- is whether you might have avoided the trunk split by holding off on cutting (i.e., neither red nor yellow). Again, no criticism intended. We all know you have to sh!t or get off the pot eventually or you'll never move a piece forward and never learn a thing, but I am curious if you think the cut caused the split or maybe the split was unavoidable?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

At this point you should have a good sense of what the basic design should be. Follow this. Be selective. Leave extra branches if you aren’t sure until you are.

btw: The branches appear to be growing vigorously, so at some point you will have to concern yourself with base direction and taper. I know my hawthorn branches will chunk right out if I don’t get on it after things harden off in the late spring.

Have fun with this project

DSD sends

 

[Lone Pine]

Right after I asked for an update I happened to notice you had a separate thread discussing the trunk split. In any case, it looks like there's a ton of opportunity for this tree... and to think that it was likely heading for the compost heap! Top notch job of saving a tree and advancing it toward bonsai. One thought -- and I only bring it up as an opportunity to share knowledge, and certainly not as criticism -- is whether you might have avoided the trunk split by holding off on cutting (i.e., neither red nor yellow). Again, no criticism intended. We all know you have to sh!t or get off the pot eventually or you'll never move a piece forward and never learn a thing, but I am curious if you think the cut caused the split or maybe the split was unavoidable?

the damage was there from when they cut down the tree, likely a chain saw or maybe an axe. upon first inspection, the cut was full of rotted material, so I flushed it out. Maybe a centimeter deep at most. I'm not sure if it widened any after the chop. if I left the wet rot mulch in the crack, I'm thinking it could have been detrimental. just gonna have to disguise the damage somehow with some future carving, I think.