English Oak Advise

[Damian79]

Hi Guys
I got this English Oak from a local club member. He thinks he is too old to start new projects
Any hoo, I need some advise on what direction to go with it.

Oak 1.jpg

Oak 2.jpg

Oak 3.jpg

Oak 4.jpg

there is a small amount of reverse taper that I hope will correct itself over time. But Im not sure if I should carve the trunk into a twin trunk as I have seen done on many trees or keep the broom style and refine it.
Any thoughts are more than welcome.
Cheers
Damo

[kcpoole]

Maybe the last photo , use the right trunk as the leader and remove all the rest on the left and carve the trunk to get rid of reverse taper.

It is too tall for a twin trunk, then second needs to start at ground level.

[Josh]

I tend to agree with Ken. I think carving out the trunk is the only way to get rid of the reverse taper. Pick a new leader and get rid of the rest as Ken suggested. It will take a while for the new leader to catch up to the base but with time and work could be a nice tree.

Josh.

[deepeetee]

Hi Damien,

Really tough piece of stock in its current form.

I have two English Oaks at the moment, one in a pot, one in the ground thickening up.

The one in the ground is an experimental tree. I usually test something out on it before i do it on any other deciduous. I know each species isnt the same, but i do learn a bit from this practice, and as i keep it in good health. It generally bounces back ok to the experiments

Ken's suggestion is a good one.
I'd either put it in a large pot or box (or the ground), and smother it with love. Get it very very healthy.
Once you have it popping out of its skin, start playing around with it.
Cut off all the leggy branches see what you get? You might get some buds pop exactly where you want
Carve the heck out of it?
Practice defoliation/leaf reduction.
Whatever needs doing on any of your other bonsai that you havent performed before.
I guess my suggestion is use it as your experimental tree.

Good luck
Dave

[Damian79]

Thanks guys for your input. My first plan of action was always going to be a grow box.
How well do Oaks back bud. How much can I reduce the existing branches back?
I think carving is the only option in this case and I think I'll follow Ken's lead on this one.
I have seen some great hollowed out trunks on these, but I don't want to go too hard too quick.
Cheers
Damo

[Paulneill]

I agree with ken as well pick one side or the other regarding the top section.
And do a 45 degree cut to remove the reverse taper. I would be inclined to airlayer the top section off and start from there.
Also I would leave at least 2 leaders growing of the top to help heal the wound and reduce it down to one leader in the fucture once it's healing well and before it starts the swell.

[deepeetee]

Hi Damien,

Mine back buds profusely.

Take some pictures of what you get up to

Dave

[Damian79]

Will do Dave.
Im thinking of some fairly heavy carving, so ill keep posting on this one.

[Damian79]

I just found this on google. This is what I was thinking for direction.
Thoughts?

oak pic.jpg

[kcpoole]

Nice image to work to Damian
Lovely little tree.

They back bud very well of recently old wood ( before the barks cracks up), Older mature bark they can and do, but you cannot guarantee where tho

You will find that if you cut back hard adn carve / clean out the cut on the big stump, it will most likely shoot near the new exposed wound but do not guarantee it tho.
If it does not then yu can graft a branch to suit.

Ken

[deepeetee]

HI Damien,

Great image to work toward.

Nice find.

Dave

[Damian79]

You will find that if you cut back hard adn carve / clean out the cut on the big stump, it will most likely shoot near the new exposed wound

Thanks Ken
When would be the best time to tackle this?
Cheers
Damo

[kcpoole]

You could do so now. The trees will have slowed down so goot time to work on them.

Ken

[Damian79]

Thanks Ken
It's fairly hot here at the moment, will that be an issue. The foliage is Browning and falling off but there are fresh buds popping every where.
Cheers.

[kcpoole]

No worries then, just defoliate if the leaves are burnt

Ken