[Kerry 1] Ash eWorkshop

[Kerry]

Have not been able to get onto Ausbonsai since yesterday but now that I have I realise that I have posted my stuff on the eWorkshop area instead of this one so here goes again. I have copied the text from yesterday's entry but need to upload the photos again.

Kerry 1 Ash eWorkshop
by Kerry » Yesterday, 6:26 pm

Not sure if I had to take the "Place inline" option to get the photos to upload so if this does not work will try again.
I have opted to include a number of photos in an attempt to give you some feeling for the dimensional properties of which there are both good and bad.

This ash tree was originally field grown and transferred to a polystyrene grow box in 2010.

It was transplanted into the current tray in Sept 2012 by cutting the grow box sides off and sliding the tree and soil into the tray with minimum root disturbance. So there is still a fair amount of field soil in the tray which makes for a bit of uneven drying and moisture retention.
I thin that the tree needs to be rotated slightly to the left in the tray to present to best front option.

Even though this is not serious enough to cause issues with the tree it was my intention to repot and remove more of the field soil this winter but this may not be feasible now given this workshop.

This last growing season the tree had good healthy growth and I have been working on starting ramification. There are extra branches left on the tree to see what developed.
I think that that there is probably now an opportunity to remove some of these surplus branches as there is some shape starting.

Hope that this is sufficient info to get us started but if not please let me know and I will sort it out.

Looking forward to the start of this workshop, just cant' wait to see how it all unfolds.

[Grant Bowie]

Thanks Kerry,

I had a dreadful time trying to log onto Ausbonsai the last few days and gave up trying to do too much on the workshop yet, so sorry about not getting right onto it.

Your pics look very good and I will study yours and all the participants in the eWorkshop.

Re your soil and repotting your two trees this winter/spring; I think it is a good idea and the wiring, thinning etc that we will do will not effect that.

Cheers,

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Thanks for all the photos; the coloured sticky bits are very helpful in working out the tree.

I think the front will be either your existing choice of front (red) or the exact opposite; the back (yellow)

First a few comments;
1. The roots are very distracting on the surface and so when you do repot (next year as it has only been one year in this pot and seems OK; as we discussed off line) I would remove as many as possible of the coiled and in air roots. The one that goes across the trunk in the yellow view, and the couple of coiled lighter roots that I can see from the above shot red view.
2. The tree seems about 15 to 20% too tall but it will be tricky to pick the best point to cut down to.(The last 2 major straight portions near the apex are both too long and relatively too even in their length to each other.
3. The tree and trunk leans to the left from the red view but the second last straight portion near the apex brings the tree too far back to the right and doesn't work in my opinion. Resolution of this part of the tree will affect the style we go for on this one.

Could you send me via email to g.m.bowie@bigpond.com the photos in higher resolution(around 1 mb each) so I can better study the branching? You would need to break them into 2 or 3 or 4 batches to send. If not no worries.

Grant

[Kerry]

Hi Grant,
Thanks for your comments, I can see what you are saying about the height and possible front of the tree so it will be interesting to see how we resolve these issues.
I will make an effort to send you higher resolution photos today but if I do not send them today it will be tomorrow at the latest.
Best Regards Kerry

[Kerry]

Hi Grant,
Have been following with interest all of the correspondence so far for the trees in this eworkshop and the development of the themes for each of them.
Clearly you have plenty on your plate but as I have not had any further contact re my tree "Kerry 1" I was wondering if there is any more information I can provide to get started.
Rgds Kerry

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Grant,
Have been following with interest all of the correspondence so far for the trees in this eworkshop and the development of the themes for each of them.
Clearly you have plenty on your plate but as I have not had any further contact re my tree "Kerry 1" I was wondering if there is any more information I can provide to get started.
Rgds Kerry

I'll get right onto it. I was working on an ash at the collection today.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

After looking at the photos in detail I can now clearly see the branching.

I think we will need to either cut down the trunk fairly hard where it starts moving back to the right; (about 60% up the tree) and also cut out the very heavy branch coming out to the front below it.

Or just cut the tip of the trunk down by a few inches and wire everything.

I will do two fairly detailed sketches so give me a little while; I have to walk a very sooky 11 1/2 year old red cattle dog or I won't get any peace.

grant

[Grant Bowie]

Kerry1 Ash.jpeg

here we use most of the existing height and wire everything.

Kerry1 Ash 2.jpeg

here we reduce the trunk by about 40% plus remove the heavy branch at the front and possibly the heavy branch towards the rear where the new apex/trunk would take over. The secondary/split apex to the right would be reduced but not eliminated over time; but use to diffuse the new energy in spring at the apex.

this would take another year or so to get back to similar ramification to what you already have.

Grant

[Kerry]

Grant
Thanks for the great sketches showing the two options
Each of these alternatives will ultimately produce a different bonsai so I will have a close look at the tree along with your suggestions and see what thoughts come along. No doubt I will have a myriad of questions for you after this viewing.
I am going to a Bonsai exhibition by the North West Bonsai Society this morning and will see a lot of deciduous trees on exhibition.
As the ramification will be evident it may also be a source of ideas or inspiration for me to help with the decision on which option to choose.

I am sure that the dog appreciates the walk and the sooky attitude is really only there to make you feel guilty and ensure the outcome is a walk.
Rgds Kerry

[Kerry]

Hi Grant,
Your sketches are quite specific but I thought to confirm where the suggested cut points are that I would use "Microsoft paint" to shade out the areas I think you have suggested to remove.
As it is dismal rainy and windy weather outside I thought this might be easier than tying string or some alternative at the cut points.
I have presumed that we are staying with the "RED" side as the front.

Would appreciate if you could let me know if the cut points on the pics are OK or need modifying.
Although I have not yet looked closely at the actual tree I am leaning towards the larger reduction as it will probably result in a better proportioned tree.

Look forward to your comments
Rgds Kerry

[Grant Bowie]

Yes, both correct.

with the bigger reduction you should get plenty of shoots coming from the trunk and around the branches you take out. Rub out most of the ones near the apex but keep as many as you can (at different levels) on the trunk.
Grant

[Kerry]

Hi Grant,
Had a look at the tree re the cut point in your sketch and have found that the thickness of the branch that would become the apex is approx 12mm thick near to the trunk and is at an angle of approx 61 degrees. The branch is also fairly straight so it does not thin until the junction point at the end.

It will definately need to be bent to a more appropriate angle to become a viable apex.
I have tried to get some movement in the branch by bending but it will not budge.

With my limited knowledge I do not know of a way to make the necessary movement in the branch so am hoping that you may have a suggestion.
If not then we may have to move to plan B.

Have attached a PDF file where I have shown the branch etc but not sure how it will show up

Rgds Kerry

[Kerry]

Grant,
Have just checked the PDF file and although it says it has not downloaded yet if you click on it the file does download to your computer so you will be able to see the view that I have chosen to show the issue.
Rgds Kerry

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Kerry,

Sorry, I have been at a workshop all day. will post result soon.

Re your Ash; it is mainly the left hand apex portion that needs to be bent up; the right hand one should be OK where it is. Also, as it is quite heavy, I would to remove it in a year or 3 once we have some new branch/es to take its place.

grant

[Kerry]

Hi Grant,
I must apologize for confusing the issue,
The picture I posted was from the end/ back quarter as you can see by the colored tapes so that I could show the angle between the trunk and the apex more clearly.
When looking from the red front side the photo does not show the angle of this branch very clearly probably because it was taken slightly looking up. In fact it looks almost to be in a good position.
In fact the branch/apex shown in the PDF attachment is actually the left hand one when viewed from the red or front side.

Taking that into account we are back to the question of how to if possible bend this thick branch to form the apex or some alternative.

Sorry for not being clearer

Bst Rgds Kerry