Can this ground-planted Gardenia be a Potenital Bonsai?

[Videl]

Hi all,

I have a gardenia that was grown in the ground since 1996. I am thinking of digging it up and making it into a bonsai eventually (IF i know it can be transplanted safely?). I have pruned it, exposing the trunk line. The tree is about 100cm wide and 80 cm tall. The trunk is around 10-15cm thick at its base. The overall design after pruning shows a triangular shape with the top of the tree as the apex. The following are a few of pictures of the Gardenia showing the front view of the tree.

Is there anything else I can do to improve the look of the tree and make it a good-looking bonsai? Also, any further tips on transplanting the tree form the ground to the pot would also be of much help. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated. Cheers

[shibui]

Gardenias can make quite good bonsai.
This one looks a bit leggy at the moment to be a good bonsai but if you prune it a bit to shorten the branches (trunks?) it will have better proportions and should bush up a bit and look far better. You can prune it now while it is in the ground and it will respond quicker than in a pot.

As far as I know Gardenia transplant reasonably easily but I have not done it.

[kcpoole]

As far as I know Gardenia transplant reasonably easily but I have not done it.

Yep easily to transplant. Get a good root mass like usual and shodu be fine. they backbud well on onld wood too.

Ken