Ash Fraxinus angustifolia 11 years from seed

[Grant Bowie]

Hi all,

In 1999 at the Adelaide AABC convention i collected some seed and propigated hundreds of Ash.

By the time I moved to Canberra I only had two left and they were rejects that hadn't grown as I wanted.

Similar to what it looked like in 2006.JPG

I kept cutting them back and they developed a real carroty, lumpy growth growth.

More pics to come.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

In 2006 I took one tree and cut off everthing except two Thin and lanky whips that were growing off to the side. It left quite big scars on top and at the back.

Two years later the two new trunks (One and a spare) had grown and thickened and had lots of little branches.
In one 40 minute frenzy of work I decided to keep both trunks, shortened them back and then wired everything left and put in the initial shape and then left alone for one season.

Next season I defoliated the tree at least 3 times and wired after each defoliation.

Close up of trunk and leaf of normal size.JPG

after defoliation and wiring 28th Dec 2009.JPG

back in leaf 7th January 2010.JPG

After final defoliation, wiring, new leaf and leaf trimmed 5th April 2010.JPG

Ash leaf comparison.JPG

I am looking for a suitable glazed pot. It is a bit squat and fat but of course it will continue to grow lots of new branches over the years whereas the trunk won't thicken much any more.

Grant

[bodhidharma]

G'day Grant, lovely Ash, they are a very underrated subject. You have done beautiful work on it.

[bonsai4life]

what a lovely tree.....it really shows your talent for designing bonsai, welldone....
you inspire me to grow my stock when i see these kind of progressions.

thanks
Gott

[Bretts]

Thats a very intresting design Grant. It looks spectacular. Does the twin trunk look pleasing from other angles?

[Grant Bowie]

It is half way through unwiring at the moment so once that is done and it has dropped its leaves I could do a 360 so you can see it warts and all.

I may need to bare root it as I want to cut off and grind out two roots that are over sized and also make it easier to get into an appropriate pot. Seeing as I will bare root it I am considering moving it into 100% inert potting media just to try it out.

Grant

[kcpoole]

Awesome work Grant
Amazing what can be done when we decide that a tree needs to start over from scratch
Cut back hard and regrow the ugly bits

Ken

[Grant Bowie]

Yes as Salvatore said "Tagliare profundamente" and then regrow.

Grant

[Tenka]

Wow, that is stunning. Thanks for showing the play by play photos too, really makes the end result that much more impressive.

I have a couple of dozen golden ash I used to learn about soft wood propagation and another few dozen american ash coming up for rootstock.
I may just keep the rejects aside as projects now.

[MattA]

It is half way through unwiring at the moment so once that is done and it has dropped its leaves I could do a 360 so you can see it warts and all.

I may need to bare root it as I want to cut off and grind out two roots that are over sized and also make it easier to get into an appropriate pot. Seeing as I will bare root it I am considering moving it into 100% inert potting media just to try it out.

Grant

Hey Grant,

Yet another great tree, the foliage reduction is fantastic. I grew a golden ash for any years and found it grew best of all in an inert mix, blue metal & crushed brick 50/50. No chance of it staying too wet, controling growth & foliage size were also easier.

Look forward to seeing this in 360 bare.

Matt

[Grant Bowie]

Top scar healing OK.JPG

Back scar not healing as quickly.JPG

Showing branch placement all around from the top.JPG

Side shot.JPG

Here are some more photos in the mean time.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

It is half way through unwiring at the moment so once that is done and it has dropped its leaves I could do a 360 so you can see it warts and all.

I may need to bare root it as I want to cut off and grind out two roots that are over sized and also make it easier to get into an appropriate pot. Seeing as I will bare root it I am considering moving it into 100% inert potting media just to try it out.

Grant

Hey Grant,

Yet another great tree, the foliage reduction is fantastic. I grew a golden ash for any years and found it grew best of all in an inert mix, blue metal & crushed brick 50/50. No chance of it staying too wet, controling growth & foliage size were also easier.

Look forward to seeing this in 360 bare.

Matt

Thanks for that, good to know about the Ash in inert mix. Anyone else tried other mixes on Ash?

Grant

[EdwardH]

I just love the defoliated view. Looks great.

[anttal63]

Yes as Salvatore said "Tagliare profundamente" and then regrow.

Grant

Bravo grant sei molto in gamba!

[nealweb]

Yes as Salvatore said "Tagliare profundamente" and then regrow.

Grant

Bravo grant sei molto in gamba!

Huh
no comprende!!!!!