My old olive bonsai

[Olivecrazy]

Hello im new to this forum have been doing bonsai on an of for over 20 yrs now started when i was 14yrs. When i was about 18yrs worked in a bonsai nursery an started to collect olives. I stopped about 10 yrs ago an lost alot of my trees over these yrs due to poor maintenance an now regret this alot. Now im back been looking on the internet an have seen alot of great trees luckly ive still have a few trees left (7) 2 of which are very cool.

I'm writing this as im out of touch with bonsai the trees ive got left i planted in the ground this kept then alive an are truly thankful. I would like some ideas for the tree ill shown in this pictures it was collected as you see it all the dead wood is natural an haven't been touched, im scared to death to touch it as i like it so much HAHAHA any assitance on designs for this tree would be greatly appreciated.

Oh i cant work out how to post pictures on this message can any one let me no how

[The Hacker]

Hi Olivecrazy,

Can you post some photo's so we can see what you have

Regard's

The Hacker

[Stewart_Toowoomba]

Hi Olivecrazy

Welcome to the forum and the bonsai online community!!

To upload pics, go to the section titled The Menu and view the posting "how to attach a file". Use the test forum section (at the bottom of the forum sites) to see if you have done so correctly.

Great to have you aboard!!

Stewart

[Olivecrazy]

Here is the picture of my old olive the bottom branch from the trunk is the only live one its about 100cm wide an 65cm high

[Olivecrazy]

Here is the trunk up closer

[The Hacker]

That is some very nice lookin Olive

Regard's The Hacker

[kcpoole]

Very nice deadwood
Dunno quite what to make of the tree or what you will do with it but interesting time ahead

Ken

[Olivecrazy]

Hi there gave my old olive a trim to day (got very bored at home) i wired to branches to maybe do a wind swept design .
This tree still has me lost all the growth of the olive is on the last 20cm with all the dead wood heading to the right. After wiring two branches to the right i started to think it not looking right so started to look at other options. Thinking about a branch that crosses some dead ( picture is below ) if i cut it to train a new apex from here an cut dead wood from behind it back so it dose not cross the trunk no more. Bit hard to look at it when in the ground so going to lift it in spring

[Craig]

Hi mate, it looks as if only the lowest branch still has a live vien, i'd try keep it simple, reduce the lowest branch and go from there,.

Untitledvirtolive.jpg

pics49.jpg

[Olivecrazy]

Thanks for the picture i was really hoping that some one would show an idea like this with picture looks great. Now thinking of it, it use to shoot half way along the lowest branch but i use to trim it of at the time because the end growth was still quiet week i may get lucking again with a shoot there as ive trimmed it an have recently fertilized the tree as well

[Craig]

Cut every single branch and sub-branch back to only 2 leaves each, it should back shoot well. Then you could do the same thing again if need be to chase the foliage right back to the start of the branch.

[Olivecrazy]

Could i do that this time of year?? im planning to lift it out of the ground in spring. Also been around bonsai for 20yrs but i still get nervis around this old tree knowing it was a realy good find ( i know it sounds Dumb) i baby it bad lol all ways takes forevery to decide what to do thats why its got to be like bush. So its time to make this tree the best i can

[Craig]

Why don't you do all the work regrowing branches etc, while it's in the ground. The tree will have alot more energy to burn because of the larger root system. It would be more beneficial and faster to do it this way.You can dig it out when it's nearer to where you want it

[Olivecrazy]

Sounds like a plan thanks for the help on this Craig ill trim it back more after work tomorrow an post some pictures.
I will take picture every 2 weeks as it be good to see over time how this tree will develop im thinking it at least a 5yr plus plan for this olive.
Also how did you draw that design of my tree is it a computer program as it would be handy to no how to do this

[Craig]

No worries, yes program, takes awhile to learn but it's great when you get the hang of it. I try not to alter them further than what i think is able to be achieved with the tree, re; bends, curves in trunks, foliage etc.