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Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 29th, 2020, 5:59 pm
by Watto
Before I write any nonsense, this is an ASH. Ahh I feel better now. This was dug from a garden where there are Golden Ash and Claret Ash growing as street trees nearby so I am guessing that it has seeded and will probably be what most people call desert ash, or common ash. But its just a guess. It is only about 20 cm tall so a small tree is the go for this one. I dug this while sussing out a couple of other garden trees that are no longer wanted so there is the possibility of a couple more soon.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 29th, 2020, 10:06 pm
by Watto
I did mean to say that a lot of material that is dug is straight as, and this one is no exception. However I hope I can turn this into something that looks OK in a few years.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 30th, 2020, 11:38 am
by Alan Peck
Ahh the shear mention of the word DIG prompted me to post my recent collection for a few hours work. All Crepe Myrtles. All from the same demolished rural cottage grounds. Scored the ones with the most movement and still left 1/2 doz more.
I can feel a group setting coming on.
2020Crepes.jpg

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 30th, 2020, 1:41 pm
by Watto
Great find and dig. That would make an awful big group!!!

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 30th, 2020, 5:52 pm
by Watto
Last year I only dug one tree, and of course it was a plum. This year there does appear to be plenty on offer and I dug this one from the same garden that the Ash came from. I had sussed these out about six months ago and I was of the opinion that the two trees were a cotoneaster and an apricot, but it now appears that the apricot is in fact a plum (I think). They were so entangled that they came as a "job lot" and took some separating when I got them home.
Firstly is a photo of them all intertwined.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 30th, 2020, 5:59 pm
by Watto
When I first looked at this tree I thought it was an apricot as I said, and that was because of the leaf structure. If someone does know, can apricot's have thorns? This has a few thorns (not nearly as fierce as the wild plum I dug) but there are a few here and there.
Anyway, I think this one has potential with a little bit of pruning, a few bits of wire and some carving it should be something different. Fingers crossed again.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 30th, 2020, 7:57 pm
by Jake fowler
My garden apricot tree definately has a few thorns! I was pruning it once and much to my surprise a thorn straight into my finger

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 30th, 2020, 8:07 pm
by Watto
Ahh, excellent news. Not about your finger but that apricot could have thorns. Thanks for the advice.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 31st, 2020, 4:59 pm
by Watto
The other tree entangled with the plum/apricot is a cotoneaster. I think this has some potential as well.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: July 31st, 2020, 5:43 pm
by SquatJar
A few years of growth to smooth out the bends just a tad and heal some wounds and that apricot could be a real treat.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: August 1st, 2020, 2:04 pm
by Watto
Thanks SquatJar, I am hoping for a good result from that one.
Next one up is a cherry. I knew before I started this dig that cherry generally do not make good bonsai. They have large leaves (that are difficult to reduce in size), they don't ramify well if at all and they attract every pest and disease known. This one also has practically no taper and just a few branches with a bit of inverse taper here and there. So why would you dig such a tree?
Well to see it flower for a few days each year and then get a few cherries of it. A lot of work for about two weeks of excitement each year but I'm up for it.
Enough dribble, the tree.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: August 4th, 2020, 4:51 pm
by Watto
Time for another post. This is an Ash and I really like the bark. It looks old and is only quite small so this may be something nice in a few years. The trunk looks to be without taper in the photo but in reality it is OK in that regard. It is 25 to 30 cm tall so the trunk width to tree height ratio is also OK. Looking forward to playing with this one.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: August 4th, 2020, 5:28 pm
by PWC
I can see why you dug this one that bark is a great start, I can't see much taper, 2 d photos can do that. From my limited experience with ash It should develop quiet quickly.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: August 5th, 2020, 3:29 pm
by Watto
Thanks Peter. Ash are fairly common in South Aus I understand and hopefully I can take some advice from those experienced with this species.

Re: Watto's 2020 Dig Trees

Posted: August 6th, 2020, 6:36 am
by Watto
This is a Trident Maple that I dug from our yard. I took a leaf out of (pun intended) the Shibui book of growing tridents and this is the result. This tree missed the senior horticultural superintendents weeding program one year and I then trimmed it with the electric hedge pruner for a couple of years and this is the result. I didn't do any root work like Shibui does (I'm too lazy) and I can now see that root work is a great idea, but we will see how this goes. It currently stands about 20 cm tall.
Is it classified as a "dig" tree if you dig it in your backyard?