What to do with a 120 year old Grape

[Bretts]

I was given this grape by a friend a couple of years ago. They had dug out a bunch with a bobcat from a vineyard that was replacing the vines. They then sat for a year or so in a recovery bed.
This is what it looked like when I found it left on my door step

grape1.jpg

I finally did a proper repot this spring and found that the gum seedlings that had popped up in the pot hadn't left much room for the grape to grow and it had very few roots.
I repotted it into an akadama mix. Large on the bottom medium and then fine mixed with terracotta grit and sand. It seems to be working real well. I usually water twice a day but it does not seem to worry it when it has missed an afternoon water.

Since it had so few roots I think it is best to go easy on it this year but I would like to start getting some ideas on styling it.

There is only one live branch from almost the top of the tree which I have been slowly pulling in close to the trunk. I have been thinking of the informal upright/slanting juniper style trees as inspiration on where to go with this. I was also thinking a 5 to 8 sided type pot.
I would be interested in what you guys think?

grape.jpg

grape2.jpg

grape3.jpg

grape4.jpg

grape5.jpg

grape6.jpg

grape7.jpg

[Edward Scissorhand]

Brett, that one is awesome. I love the wood on that! youre a real lucky bastard, what did you have to do to get that?

[Shannon]

I would crawl over broken glass for a grape like that..........

[anttal63]

a very beautiful stump!!!

[Bretts]

I didn't have to crawl over broken glass or nothing for this. I am still trying to catch up on gifts in return though Especialy after he arrived with a ute full of privit hedge that I got to choose from this season.
I was thinking something along these lines.

grapev (2).jpg

grapev.jpg

[kcpoole]

Hey Bretts
Love "Grape 2" as the front, and I was thinking of something along the shape of the first Juni you showed before I even saw the photo.

I still haven't forgotten the others mate. Just trying to get S.W.M.B.O. to approve

Ken

[bodhidharma]

OOOOH what to do with a 120 year old grape Send it to me

[Greth]

Hmmm, I have a nearby vineyard that is friendly, wonder whether they do any vine replacement?

[Amanda]

What a score! I've often stopped to admire the vineyards in the Hunter.

What's the root system like on this vine?

[Handy Mick]

You could kill it and i'm sure it will still look good.

[Bretts]

Hi Anja
I think I stated to some degree at the wrong time of the year I reduced the root ball to fit this blue pot and then last spring I did the job properly and found the pot mostly populated by the gum tree seedlings that where booming. This left little room for the grape roots and the root ball was not great.
It grew well in the new Akadama this season and the root ball seems to have improved as it is secure in it's pot. So much so that I tried removing the prop holding the trunk up but it is in tight at the moment.
I am looking forward to seeing how it goes next season

[thuynguyen001]

I reckon your friend put gold in your hands back then,Brett! Its a great trunk to start with.
since its a vine, it leads me to the thinking of another great vine used for bonsai- Wisteria!
So im imagining something like this:

61vJOVYNuKL__SS400_.jpg

but instead of the flower racemes,you'll have bunches tiny grapes hanging down!
(i also heard that wisteria flowers have a fragrance similar to grape too)
Just a thought.
cheers. Thuy.

[JayP]

I would crawl over broken glass for a grape like that..........

lol, i hear ya mate!!

[MattA]

What an amazing piece of natures handy work on that trunk. For those of you in S.A or anyone prepared to get down there. I remember an old vineyard that is sitting abandoned & overgrown just by the start of the Southern Expressway, I kept meaning to go and see them and find out a bit more, maybe even get permission to dig a couple.

If there is anyone local could you maybe let us know & see if we as a group could help relieve them of the mess it is on the right handside as you are heading south, either just before or after the start of the Expressway.

Matt

[Jester]

Holy smoke, man I would have root canal without anaesthetic whilst listening to Celine Dion to get that trunk. - I hate you!!! May a thousand scorpions infest your underpants !!!

Just out of curiosity, do you know if you can get any kind of decent leaf reduction on a grape??