Collecting an old Rosemary Bush

[MattA]

I love rosemary & have made several attempts at them as bonsai. My last ended up planted in the garden. I was wondering if the tree survived the move from garden to pot?

Matt

[bonzaidog]

Good call Matt,I've seen a few really good garden specimens go from garden,to box,to herb jar .I've still not discarded the hope of lifting a good one , but I needs some more learnin'!. ....Dog

[Greth]

Im going the slow track and have a large cutting turning into a cascade, should be fun practice anyway. Im using Benenden Blue Rosemary which has a much thinner leaf than the common, so will look neater as a mini.
Have plenty of Benenden blue cuttings to share, have already discovered Rosemary cuttings travel in the post OK (That is another story) so tell me if you want to get some going.

[kcpoole]

Hi all

Sorry to say that it did not survive the transplant. It never even looked like going to kick on. it died immediately.

Have to keep my eye out for a smaller specimin to lift and try.
some of these photos here prove they can look awesome as bonsai

Ken

[MattA]

Sorry to say that it did not survive the transplant. It never even looked like going to kick on. it died immediately.

Ken

Sorry to hear ken, that was a beaut tree. This has also been my experience with them. I dug a small 6" plant from the garden last spring. It had been pot grown for a few yrs & I thought it could benefit from a yr in the ground to help get a bit more size into it. It just curled up & died. If anyone has had any success moving them i would be interested to know how they went about it.

Matt

[Greth]

I moved quite a large one when I came to this house, prob 4-5 yrs ago. I didn't do anything particularly special, just dug it up and moved it wholeus bolus from memory. Dont think I even pruned it back much. Not into a pot, just into a new hole in the garden. It did not bat an eyelid, so sorry, I succeeded but dont know why.

[MattA]

I moved quite a large one when I came to this house, prob 4-5 yrs ago. I didn't do anything particularly special, just dug it up and moved it wholeus bolus from memory. Dont think I even pruned it back much. Not into a pot, just into a new hole in the garden. It did not bat an eyelid, so sorry, I succeeded but dont know why.

I have also had no trouble moving them from garden bed to garden bed so maybe its just the extra special attention they get in a pot... might have to try another one & neglect it

[kcpoole]

I moved quite a large one when I came to this house, prob 4-5 yrs ago. I didn't do anything particularly special, just dug it up and moved it wholeus bolus from memory. Dont think I even pruned it back much. Not into a pot, just into a new hole in the garden. It did not bat an eyelid, so sorry, I succeeded but dont know why.

I have also had no trouble moving them from garden bed to garden bed so maybe its just the extra special attention they get in a pot... might have to try another one & neglect it

Maybe that is what I did wrong! Looked after it too well
Seasol baths, regular water!

[Greth]

Oh, dont look at them too carefully or they will get all sookish and behave like wilting violets! Plonk em in a hole, there you have water and dirt and sunshine, work it out or die.

[Watto]

Ken,
Sorry to hear about your loss. The one this post encouraged me to dig is going along OK, I would'nt say it was powering, but it is OK. I thought I would attach a photo of a mini I have had for about 8 or so years now. It needs a trim but I will let it flower first then get the scissors out.
Cheers mate.

[bonzaidog]

This thread is encouraging me to try and lift mine. Our 'dormant' season is just starting so I might start by cutting back and ring pruning the roots in situ in preparation for an all out attack in early spring 2010.

Hi Don..I was wondering ,if this project had gotten under way yet,if so how's it panning out? if not,please keep us updated later!,anyone else with a successfull rosemary project,can you jump in and throw some pics and ideas up? Thanks Guys ....Dog.

[Greth]

Not posting my cascade Benenden Blue, it is doing really will and growing nicely, very happy, but its so small Im sure I would get derogatory comments. I'd rather be getting the curves in now while the trunk is still thin enough to bend easily, they can get quite brittle. This was a larger cutting than normal, the really large ones I tried by various methods didn't work. Haven't tried airlayer yet, but as I turn my attention to the ornamental garden I might be able to try one from an old twisted branch, there are plenty on at least 7 different varieties. I need to be up there and watering regularly, just started putting my spring seedlings in, so now I will be spending more time and energy in this area.

[Michael]

gday ken heres one i have been looking at for awhile its in our garden i feel they must be pretty hardy this one gets no tlc really but strives on .
it has a nice trunk line be keen to see how u go and will read up article in bonsai focus

P4040017.JPG

P4040018.JPG

cheers mick

[anttal63]

Very nice trunk michael. In your garden is the best scenario you can ask for. The ability to prep and take it right. Under no duress or hurry.

[kcpoole]

Love the trunk Mick
as ant says. Start the prep to dig as soon ans you can by cutting some root s and getting some fine roots back near the trunk.

Let us know how you go with it as it looks very worthwhile

Yes greth the branches are really brittl, and if you need to shape them they have to be done when young

Ken