next next new project. Scotts pine

[Guy]

good bluey-----nice bluey

[bodhidharma]

That is going to be some fun to play with Grant. I am a little bit jealous.

[Graeme]

Not worth any effort whatsoever Grant. The heat and humidity up here will knock it on its butt straight away. Na mate, not worth the effort really.

[goueber]

Grant, Do you gave to be careful with how much you cut off a scots pine at any one time. I have heard of people here in Sydney taking off a lot at the top and then have the tree die on them. Garry

[Grant Bowie]

Grant, Do you gave to be careful with how much you cut off a scots pine at any one time. I have heard of people here in Sydney taking off a lot at the top and then have the tree die on them. Garry

Yes, I have found Scots pine to be a bit touchy when it comes to top reduction and root pruning so I am a bit more careful now.

I haven't done anything with the tree in this thread yet but maybe soon.

Grant

[AnneK]

Hi Grant,

I've just been on a UK site: http://www.shootgardening.co.uk/plant/p ... s-watereri to increase my scant knowledge of your Sylvestris.

It seems this general gardening site has some good news for you. They reckon it only needs one hour of care per annum!

Good luck with it, you've waited long enough. I'm looking forward to the progress.

Regards, AnneK

[Grant Bowie]

Peter Adams wrote the most comprehensive book on Scots pine ever done and he will be here soon so I suppose we should direct our questions to Peter.

The climate here in Australia is of course different to a fine scottish mist and I think Sydney is at the extreme of its limits of survival.

Here in Canberra it should do OK and as it certainly does OK in Melbourne.

Grant

[AnneK]

Peter Adams wrote the most comprehensive book on Scots pine ever done and he will be here soon so I suppose we should direct our questions to Peter.

The climate here in Australia is of course different to a fine scottish mist and I think Sydney is at the extreme of its limits of survival.

Here in Canberra it should do OK and as it certainly does OK in Melbourne.

Grant

Hi Grant,

There are a few good Scotties around the Sydney area, the Watereri I hadn't heard of. And I now assume it will not fair any better in Sydney than the normal variety.

Yes, Peter Adams is coming back to Sydney in July this year for the School of Bonsai 2011 Summit weekend and workshops during the week. It promises to be a very lively time and I am really looking forward to his visit.

Regards, AnneK

[Dario]

Hi Grant, I would love to see how you ended up tackling this great Scotts pine nursery stock!
Any chance you could update this thread please?
Is Jed still as belligerent as ever?...cool dog, like the origin of his name too!
Thanks, Dario.

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Grant, I would love to see how you ended up tackling this great Scotts pine nursery stock!
Any chance you could update this thread please?
Is Jed still as belligerent as ever?...cool dog, like the origin of his name too!
Thanks, Dario.

i havent touched the tree yet; just ran out of time.

During Floriade I am getting Fridays and Saturdays off so I hope to do some work on it then.

I have however got a lot of work done on deciduous trees this year and even created about 7 minis; Ash, Maple and Chanomeles.

Yes Jed is still a pain the . Almost ten years old but as enthusiastic as a puppy and really strong. Taking him walkies is more him taking us for trotties.

Grant

[Dario]

Hi Grant, thanks for the quick reply! Yeah I look forward to seeing how this pine turns out and I figured you must have been busy. I am having a go at a mini ash around the 10cm mark as I really like them! I have been using the info you posted on developing them...thanks! Glad to hear Jed is still kicking along, I used to have a blue healer...great dogs the healers!
You are obviously very busy, but if you get the time perhaps you could show a pic of your minis too?
Anyway, thanks and I hope the Scotts pine turns out well!
Cheers, Dario.

[Grant Bowie]

Update after a few years.

IMG_6013.JPG

JEd is now almost 12 years old and still as feisty as ever; although a little slower and greyer. He is almost good company now that I have retired, still a bugger of a dog really. He should be a good older dog than he was as a puppy and young dog.

The tree has been progressively trimmed back over the years and a last year I cut back a couple of lower branches/trunks.

I cut off another big trunk/branch this year and totally cleaned out and selected the vigorous growing points to 2 x 2 x 2 etc.

This selection of Scotts pine seems to bit a bit basally dominant and the apex a bit slow.

I have started bending and wiring and will update.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

IMG_6021.JPG

IMG_6019.JPG

IMG_6018.JPG

This is a big tree and a big job.

I would estimate about another 8 hours work yet to go.

I tried peeling the stumps and they just refused to peel. I will use dremel to finish them off.

grant