[ID] Can I Bonsai this?

[Laurie J]

Hi everyone,

I'm starting to prepare my backyard for the Bonsai madness. This big Conifer is partly where I'm looking at putting my benches. I have no idea how old it is, but it towers over me. I was going to get it taken away but then thought I could maybe Bonsai it.

Does anyone know what it is and if it's worth trying to Bonsai? Sorry about the phone pics, it was just a thought I had on the way to work this morning!







Thanks!

Laurie

[Eusto]

I'm not sure on exact species but that will make an amazing bonsai.

Lots of work getting it out of the ground, but with the size of that trunk it will be a great tree in a few years.

[RogerW]

This appears to be Thuja orientalis. I doubt that it would make a decent bonsai as the foliage has very strong vertical growth habit. I do not think that it will shoot back on old wood.

[Bush bunny]

Hi, it is a conifer, with white flowers. I would say it is a scale Juniper or Yew. Look up your bonsai species/genus book. But I know some would attackit, I wouldn't it has too large a trunk, and the roots will go down deep. You can trim it though in the ground. It would make a good shade tree for your benched bonsai. Good luck anyway. As I have suggested before, if it likes were it is, leave it as it is. I know some of our male bonsaiers, would think of up rooting it and this is done, but - you risk killing the tree. I suppose you could air layer the top half.

[treeman]

Its a Green Biota (Thuja occidentalis) and no you can't bonsai it for so many reasons!

[Eusto]

Its a Green Biota (Thuja occidentalis) and no you can't bonsai it for so many reasons!

Can you explain why it can't be done or is it just very difficult?

[treeman]

Its a Green Biota (Thuja occidentalis) and no you can't bonsai it for so many reasons!

Can you explain why it can't be done or is it just very difficult?

Well first you have to dig it out and removing such a established thing is very difficult....Many huge roots to cut and they don't like that!

So if you do that and manage to keep it alive, you have to remove 95% of its mass which may also kill it.

But if you do that and it's still alive you will need to reduce the cut branches to jin and shari with only a few green twigs left. (remember that these plants are mostly leafless just a couple of inches into the tree due to lack of light so you only have the green tips to work with. They will not back bud at all!

And if you get to that stage, you will probably find it is impossible to style because this variety has a gazzilion leaders and you will need to remove most of them which leaves you with a piddling amount left.

And so after all that you will look at the grotesque ugly thing and think..... What the hell is THAT doing at my place!

[Boics]

Its a Green Biota (Thuja occidentalis) and no you can't bonsai it for so many reasons!

Can you explain why it can't be done or is it just very difficult?

Well first you have to dig it out and removing such a established thing is very difficult....Many huge roots to cut and they don't like that!

So if you do that and manage to keep it alive, you have to remove 95% of its mass which may also kill it.

But if you do that and it's still alive you will need to reduce the cut branches to jin and shari with only a few green twigs left. (remember that these plants are mostly leafless just a couple of inches into the tree due to lack of light so you only have the green tips to work with. They will not back bud at all!

And if you get to that stage, you will probably find it is impossible to style because this variety has a gazzilion leaders and you will need to remove most of them which leaves you with a piddling amount left.

And so after all that you will look at the grotesque ugly thing and think..... What the hell is THAT doing at my place!

So I take it that we should proceed to dig and style?

[treeman]

So I take it that we should proceed to dig and style?

Yeah sure why not?

[Neli]

You can try it...nothing to loose, but it is a hard tree for a beginner...
I am sure you googled it...https://www.google.co.zm/search?q=thuja ... 00&bih=775
Here is one rather neglected one I took a picture of in SA.

DSC04395 (480x640).jpg

Before you dig it search for advise on digging large junipers...it is not an easy task to make it survive,

[Andrew Legg]

So I take it that we should proceed to dig and style?

Yeah sure why not?

LOL

I think the effort you'd put into trying to bonsai this would be better spent trying to bonsai material that lends its self to bonsai! You can probably bonsai this thing if you are REALLY determined, but you gotta ask yourself if it's worth the effort.

If you choose to do it, I'd chop it right back to a number of trunks with different heights to target ending up with a clump style tree. If it bud's back I'd then ground layer it to establish a fine root structure close to the trunk. Then 2 years later Id undercut it and lift. You willing to wait 3 years for your benches?

[Laurie J]

Thanks for all the replies. Andrew, cannot wait 3 years! Too hard basket. I've found it a good home at a friend's place. I think I'll give it to them to put in the ground next to another they have. Hopefully it survives being pulled from the ground and transported.

[Andrew Legg]

Lol . . . Thought not. In all honesty, I don't think it woulda made a good tree. Good decision mate!

[Bush bunny]

Hi there, knowledge is wonderful, never heard of the Thuja what ever. It would be wise to dig a wide trench around the tree firstly. Before lifting it. And transporting it? Best of luck

[lackhand]

I know they work with these here in the US where they're natives, but it's largely because they're readily available, and some of the old ones have some nice deadwood like yamadori junipers. But they are a bit unruly, and not very easy. I don't think I would bother with one of these that size.