AusBonsai

Hey Ausbonsai fans,

I was at my parents place in the cumberland region last week and picked up a couple of largish African Olive Yamadori that have started to invade their paddocks. Seeing so many other people's Olives had me frothing at the mouth to grab a few for the collection. Here's the main thing I learnt on my first 'big' olive dig.... Don't go alone

However as I said I did managed to get two out.

After digging, they were bare rooted and the big roots trimmed back as much as possible with what I had. Next time: CHAINSAW Then they sat in a seasol bath for 4 days and were potted up today into a nice free draining mix. Now I'll be putting them in the shade and hoping they shoot.

Not much to critique really as they are just stumps but suggestions on where possible chops and carvings may be in the future would most helpful. Photos below shown with the slightly larger than standard measuring device
At the moment I see two options for this tree. A semi-cascade including reducing and 'jinning' the first branch. Or removing the large left hand branch altogether, standing the tree upright a bit and making a sumo. I'm hoping for the cascade.
I'm obviously looking at a triple trunk for this one. The saw cut is for the largest trunk is right where the photo cuts it off. Probably going to require some trunk chops and regrowth to add interest to the smaller trunks. I will try and achieve this on the larger one by carving.

In fact I'm pretty sure they'll both require some extensive carving to become believable but I'm into deadwood.

Thanks for reading guys. Particular thanks to Andrew Legg for his potting and after care advice.

Cheers,

Ces.

Some nice stock there Ces and good luck with them.

With Olive 1, I would probably remove the heavy vertical growth/branch to go more with the lines and flow of a semi-cascade. I would also reduce the height of the smaller vertical branches as well. Just my thoughts.

Please keep us posted to how they develop.

Mark

Nice stumps, Hope they grow for you as I have had no success at all.

the first I might even go as a far as to remove ( or carve) the entire lower Limb / Branch / trunk, and go withthe top one only.
Semi cascade for it.
The other one just wait till it shoots and recovers then see.

Ken

Nice material Ces!! Now just keep it moist and well drained. Pop those pots up on bricks or drill a few drainage holes about 5mm up from the base on the edges of the pot. We often block our drainage holes by placing pots on surfaces that bung 'em up. Good luck, and hope they come back at 'cha!

Cheers,

Andrew

One other thing Ces,

Place the trees to that the back sides of the trees get the most sun. That way, you'll get most of your budding on the side that needs it!

Cheers

Thanks guys.

Appreciate the advice ken. That's what I'm planning on doing (hope that means my eye for it is getting better) but I was going to wait to see where it shoots in case the cascade branch dies off. You think go for it now?

Andrew, so the buds will pop on the side thats in the 'shade'?

Thanks again.

Ces

Oh plzz can i have the olive 2 thats a great find i can see a great tree in there all ready u so lucky

Ces wrote:Thanks guys.

You think go for it now?
Thanks again.

Ces

No do not do anything now, Wait until it is well on the way to recovery andwith good vigour before doing any work to it.
If you do decide the remove or carve that one, you can selectively remove new growth when you get it.

Ken

Ces wrote:
Andrew, so the buds will pop on the side thats in the 'shade'?

My experience here is that they tend to bud more on the side facing the sun. If you think about it that's natural as the whole point of throwing buds is to generate leaves for photosynthesis, and why the heck would you wanna do that on the shady side.

right. Thanks again guys.

Ken, that was what I had read and thought but I think I misunderstood what you had posted.

Same goes for you Andrew. When I first read your post I thought you meant that the buds would pop on the side in the shade. It was a long day in the sun today (this and several other projects), I think I may have cooked my brain a bit.

Will post again when they pop. If they do.

Cheers,

Ces.

They may pop in a month or two, and they may take up to a few years, so give em time, and keep lovin' them!

Andrew Legg wrote:They may pop in a month or two, and they may take up to a few years, so give em time, and keep lovin' them!

You are right ive collected a lot of olives an the quickest to re-shoot has been 3 weeks an the longest is nearly 1yr now with no shoots but its bark is soft an green very much alive just taking its time. As for shoots on the sunny side i find the same thing i place all mine in full sun from the time i dig them up, right now is a great time to dig olives tend to be dormant in during mid to late summer (where i live anyway) when it starts to rain a bit the come alive an grow fast.

i'm going to have to find a cozy spot in full sun to put them that my wife doesnt mind. Sounds like they'll be in these trainers for awhile and I certainly dont want to be moving these around all the time.

Appreciate all the tips guys..

update...

Olive 1 hasn't pushed any foliage shoots yet but it keeps trying to grow roots in the air from the base of the stump where it used be in the ground. I feel confident that it's growing and keeping roots in the potting medium Olive 2 has started to push new shoots. Also, some that where there before collection popped almost immediately and have held Now a couple of years of growing and thinking before styling.

Cheers guys.

Ces.

Hi Ces,

Now a couple of years of growing and thinking before styling.

Your on the money. Leave them alone for a least 1 year. You need to let them start to grow some good roots. I have some that I haven't touched for 3 years. The growth they are putting out tells me that they have established good roots. I will start to do something with them this year.

I hope they take off for you.

Regards Ray