Ligustrum Vulgare /common Privet progression.

[lennard]

I got this in June 2009:

June 2009.jpg

This is the tree in August 2010 in a bonsai pot:

Aug 2010.jpg

I am planning to keep the pads very small and defined?

Any comments or advice welcome.

Lennard

[alpineart]

Hi Lennard , very nice trunk and movement . It should progress into an age tree very quickly .Cheers Alpineart

[kvan64]

Hi Lennard, very nice trunk. I would prefer the first left branch to be a bit lower to avoid bar branching and also to keep the balance for the tree. Being a privet, pad and branch development will not take long at all. I found the a problem with privets is they root too well. With this pot size, you may need to repot a couple times a year and make sure that you give it enough and regular watering during summer months.
Cheers,
DK

[Matt Jermy]

I love it - great result so quick! and should really develop well..
.. I tend to agree with the left branch being where it is, maybe u could jin it, or remove totally..
though this might negatively impact the trunks look..?
.. just thougts, u have a great tree there
Matt.

[Matt Jermy]

P.S.
i reckon that branch just above it (2nd up on the left..) has to go ..
Matt.

[Webos]

I say bring that left branch down to the bend then out from there

[lennard]

Hi Lennard , very nice trunk and movement . It should progress into an age tree very quickly .Cheers Alpineart

Thanks. I am just a little bit concerned about the deadwood. Luckily things around here don't stay wet too long.

Lennard

[lennard]

Hi Lennard, very nice trunk. I would prefer the first left branch to be a bit lower to avoid bar branching and also to keep the balance for the tree. Being a privet, pad and branch development will not take long at all. I found the a problem with privets is they root too well. With this pot size, you may need to repot a couple times a year and make sure that you give it enough and regular watering during summer months.
Cheers,
DK

That was one of my concerns also: the lowest left branch was not low enough. I wanted to correct this by bringing one of the base shoots into a groove in the deadwood up to where I thought the first branch should be because there are no buds lower down:

verklein3.jpg

soner shari.jpg

If I am going to use a lower branch I will have to go the above way or do a pencil graft.

Lennard

[lennard]

Thanks for all the replies.

I have virted the tree a bit to what I have envisioned for the tree:

virt.jpg

Matt's suggestion:

virt 2.jpg

Matt's other suggestion:

virt 3.jpg

Weboss's suggestion:

virt 4.jpg

What do you guys think?

Lennard

[patrick3331]

wow great tree mate!!! as for the virts i like the look/idea of webbos it gives the tree a more balanced look.

[lennard]

An update:

april 2012.jpg

I am very happy with the outcome of the tree:

"It really looks like you are looking at the close up view of a very tall tree. You are very near the trunk, so it looks big, and the foliage is way far away up in the sky, so it looks very small."
(Bob)

What do you think?

Lennard

[Gareth]

It looks almost,..... ALMOST, like a semi literati style, where you know the branchs should be lower down, and that it doesnt conform to a traditional tree of the same dimensions, But it looks amazing despite it.

An excellent outcome and in think if you tried to "fix" the "problems" with the tree not being "traditional" in proportions in regards to branch placement, it would ruin it.

I would be very happy to own this tree, i think you should be stoked to own it, and be proud to have designed it.

i think a 360 is in order.

[lennard]

Thanks Gareth, I am very proud of what I achieved with it.

There is still some refinement on the deadwood needed, especially where I have attempt to graft a twig on the left hand side of the trunk and at the big chop at the back.

Some of the carve work on the roots still needs to age - I have applied lime of sulphur to all the deadwood without cleaning the deadwood first, that's why the deadwood parts still look dark.

The tree is now shedding its leaves so I will take some pictures for a 360 on summer.

Thanks for the kinds word.

(Did I name the species correctly?)

Lennard

[Hackimoto]

The tree is now shedding its leaves so I will take some pictures for a 360 on summer.Lennard

I'm curious as to why it is shedding its leaves, it is not a deciduous tree. How cold does it get there?

[bodhidharma]

A lovely tree Lennard and you should be proud of it. Like Hackimoto, i to am curious as to why it drops its leaves. Where i am Privet are semi deciduous at the most.