AusBonsai

Hi All,

Look what I found! A pyracantha on someone's sidewalk. Check the base out on this puppy. It looks like it is about 30cms across, but check out the taper!! From there, it goes pretty much straight up for about 6 feet and has a big clump of foliage.

So, the million $ question. . . . if I dig this tree, and cut all the branches off, will it back-bud? Also, how sensitive to root disturbance are these trees?

Cheers,

Andrew

Nice one. You don't really want the straight part of the trunk. Just the base is good enough. This won't need a lot of roots to survive. But I would leave it till end of winter if possible unless you worry about someone else may want to have a go.

Mine backbud like crazy. Nice trunk, is that cement you are going to have to go through Might need a jack hammer.

Holy Crap Andrew!
If you do not dig that one then I will . I jump on a plane and pinch it from under your nose

Seriously nice stump and you should do real well collecting that one

Please document the collection if you can. I would love to see that one come out and the recover. It can make a great Howto collect thread

ken

bodhidharma wrote:Mine backbud like crazy. Nice trunk, is that cement you are going to have to go through Might need a jack hammer.

Luckily not cement Bodhi, just the very sandy soil we have here on the Cape Flats (which is the bit between Table Mountain and the rest of Africa!)

Hi Andrew, I haven't dealt with this species before so no tips from me.
But that will make a terrific bonsai in time with a base like that.
Nice find and please let us know how it goes.
Cheers, Dario.

Slice away Andrew, it will backbud.

Cheers,
Mojo

Soooper news everyone! The owner has said I can dig it! They are happy for me to wait till spring, and have asked for two Syzigiums to replace it - bargain!!!! Very very happy! I'll definately keep a record of the dig and aftercare etc. and post it up here, but it will probably only be in July or early August. Till then . . . . . . and thanks for the advice all!

Ta Daah,

It's in a bath of Superthrive now and I'll try to pot it tonight. Yay

would you consider cutting those leaders a bit shorter.

great stump mate!!!
i really hope it kicks on for you
i have dealt with a few at work an they are extremely hardy
ive only collected 1 it didn't have a lot of root but it kicked on really well back budding everywhere
and has no noticeable die back

good luck

Great score!!!

Love Pyracantha Andy. She certainly is a bigun.

Sssooo.. whats next? How do you Bonsai a lump of wood that big?

The only reason I ask is.... I am a newbie, as you can probably tell!

Can't wait to see the progression from here!!!

Bebbas wrote:Love Pyracantha Andy. She certainly is a bigun.

Sssooo.. whats next? How do you Bonsai a lump of wood that big?

The only reason I ask is.... I am a newbie, as you can probably tell!

Can't wait to see the progression from here!!!

He like big trees Bebbas most trees he brings back home big ones last one was on the back of a truck i think

Thanks for the comments all. I must say I'm really excited.

Bodhi - yes I will definitely cut them back more. I guess the question should be how much. I'm always a bit wary of die-back, so prefer to leave them a little bit longer and bring them back once I know what the branches are gonna do.

Bebbas - With time old chap, with time. First you have to let it recover, then see where it grows, and then in four or five years from now start working on the tree. The how is no different to any other size of bonsai other than the fact that the physics are somewhat more challenging! In the words of some clever chap, give me a lever and I'll move the world! A couple of chubby friends to hang on the other end goes a long way too . . . You know what they say . . . . chocolate makes your feet small! I'm estimating that this tree may end up at about 50 to 60cm in height, so apart from the significant width, and a big pot, it's really just a mame!

To satrt off, as I mentioned above, its in a bath of Superthrive now, and tonight I'll take it out, use a die grinder to score the cambium under the tree, rub rooting hormone onto the scored areas, and then plant it into a mix of 70% 6mm gravel and the balance sieved compost. All the big cuts up the top have been sealed with Alcolin wood glue (cheap and nasty), but works for me.

Cheers all, and that she pulls through.