Ash escapee

[MattA]

I spotted this ash growing in a bed at a nearby nursery, the roots had escaped into the ground & it had been left to grow. I dont know how long it had been like that but long enough for the pot to be almost nonexistant. Since being taken over the new owners of the nursery had chopped it back to stumps so I asked if I could dig it out. They jumped at the chance to be rid of it & I jumped at the chance to have it.

I have shortened all the roots back to the bottom of the pot & removed most of the remnants of it as well. I would guess that it was a 30cm pot but with so little of it left its hard to be sure. The base measures 35cm by 25cm. I am fairly certain the central smallest trunk is a graft but until it shoots I wont know which variety.

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It has been planted in a foam fruit box and I have only buried about 5cm of the roots not being a fan of the 'perfect' nebari these roots have a certain appeal to me. I am open to the idea of layering off the top and then growing the root base into something else, 2 trees for the price of 'Free' maybe even 3 trees if I decide to take off the grafted part.

I wont be doing anything with it till next year so I have plenty of time to study it & ponder options. I am interested in hearing from others on what they would do with it.

Matt

[MattA]

Dug from the garden where it has been for the last 2yrs, nature, in the form of rot & larvae that feed on the decaying wood have made plenty of changes. What started as interesting material has turned into what was recently described as a "Shocker", I like it so much I have decided to keep it as its name

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I have a vague picture in mind for this tree & lots of work to be done over the coming years, thank nature for the interest that makes it worth persisting with

[bodhidharma]

Interesting trunk Matt My next question, which will make a difference to its style is, do you know what sort of ash it is? That would make a difference as to its styling. If it is a Desert ash it will make a great base to build on.

[time8theuniverse]

Shock and awe (technically known as rapid dominance) is a military doctrine based on the use of overwhelming power, dominant battlefield awareness ...

Shock and awe.

If you can't do something "technically right", do it so you can't be ignored.

What ever direction it goes in you'll be the only one with one like it. Personally I think it has a lot of character to work with.

[Grant Bowie]

Good to see it out of the ground and ready to go.

Looking forward to see what you do with it.

Grant

[MattA]

Bodhi, I would guess Desert ash, Grant mentioned it as being the usual rootstock for grafted ash.

Time8, It will never be classical (modern) bonsai but they are my least favorite.

the interest that makes it worth persisting with

Grant, due to being left in the ground for 2yrs the roots had gotten away & had to be heavily shortened, I will see how it comes back this spring but may leave it another year before starting. I am looking forward to waching what you do in the ewokshops & learning all I can, as this progresses any input will be gratefully received

[time8theuniverse]

Missed taking the name out of the quote. Sorry, fixed now. I didn't mean to imply any involvement for my ill defined opinion.

Do you still recommend an inert mix, blue metal & crushed brick 50/50?

[MattA]

Your cool, just had me

After years of crushing & mixing mediums I have gone back to what I started with & never had any problems (getting or with performance) prepackaged Cacti & Succulent potting mix.

[DavidWilloughby]

Hi Matt,

Interesting Ash mate, the fact it has a story behind it adds weight. I look forward to seeing it at the next tribal gathering. At least for moving about, it appears to have a nice handle there already

Cheers

David

[MattA]

David, I look forward to hearing the tribes thoughts when next we get together

The handle is pure genius if only we styled our trees with such factors in consideration, says me with mainly 2man+ trees

[MattA]

A few more pics and having seen some of the sketchs on the workshop threads will try to do some for my ideas soon. I prefer the last pic in both sets for possible fronts, keeping much of the deadwood on the first front hiding most of the cavity & removing the bulk of it from the later front to expose the hollow core.

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[Goff]

Check out graham potters videos on utube.. He would make a masterpiece out of that!! Have fun with it..