AusBonsai

Hi to all collectors of trees for bonsai .This was a tree that i could not chop the top off and bring the stump home as the terminals were ready made trainers thanks to the owners hacking the tops off to as he stated "Make a bonsai " .The tree was 18 years old and 12 - 15 feet high when Shane took to it and lopped the tops out His idea of a bonsai was way off the mark but his handy work will save me a couple of years work to ramify the terminals ,i was only after a large trunk however on closer inspection the branches will layer into 12 very nice trainers . With the assistance of the owner we dug it out manually as the excavator couldn't get close enough due to pipes and services in front of the tree . We placed a drag chain around the base and slid the tree down the terrace where the machine could be used to lift and load The root ball was trimmed down to about 900mm round and a majority of the soil removed , then wrapped in linen sheets and packed with spagnum moss to prevent them from drying out over the next 24 hours as it would be the next day before i returned home .With the tree loaded into the ute the canopy was covered with extra large plastic bags x 2 then wrapped in shade cloth to prevent wind burn and damage to the foliage .This would be re-wrapped back at my sisters place as the weather was to wet and wild to make a safe cover for the 400klm trip home.

When i returned home the first thing was to make a training box for the tree .a 750 X 750 X 300mm box was knocked up with drain holes and the tree was potted up like any other Bonsai i do . .The tree measures 2800mm high 2100mm wide with a 165mm trunk and a base of 230mm .It has 12 chopped terminals which will be layered of to make a dozen very nice trainer per year for the next 3 seasons .

Very nice and you have more than a handful there!

I thought my collectings were rather large You beat me hands down

Ken

This is a close up of some of the 12 impressive trainers that will be layered off ASAP and the tree will undergo serious training for the next season for another load of trainers to be layered .Cheers Alpineart

alpineart,

To say I am green with envy is an understatement, nice pick up. How good was that with the excavator being on the scene, i would not have been keen to lift that by manpower.

Also if i can ask, What type of wood do you use for your trainer box ? ( Great idea by putting wheels onto the box too, would not have thought of that )

kcpoole wrote:Very nice and you have more than a handful there!

I thought my collectings were rather large You beat me hands down

Ken

Thanks kc ,this is a long term project for sure as most of my collecting is .Cheers

[quote="Willows _FUD"]alpineart,

To say I am green with envy is an understatement, nice pick up. How good was that with the excavator being on the scene, i would not have been keen to lift that by manpower.

Also if i can ask, What type of wood do you use for your trainer box ? ( Great idea by putting wheels onto the box too, would not have thought of that )

Hi Willows ,i use untreated pine mostly or anything untreated i can get my hands on as long as its free .Most recycle tip places sell it for 2 bucks a load up here plus we have a Pine Mill in town so its real cheap for off cuts . The wheels are the only way to go with big trees , 2 wheels at the back and put a bag trolley under the front and i could wheel it anywhere .I only learned of the excavator the night before the dig .Cheers

Nice one. I wonder if it would be benificial to remove most of the fine twiging and branches.
I have found in certain batches when collecting that the only trees I have lost are the ones that I have tried to save all the branches on for yard trees.
Maybe you know better but this has cemented my belief in balancing the top to the bottom when collecting.

way to go pal, there'll be lots of fun in this one !

anttal63 wrote:way to go pal, there'll be lots of fun in this one !

Hi anttal this was purchased for $15.95 for that brother of mine then he changed his mind .His boss lady would make him 2 stone lighter if he took it home .His kicking himself now , recons it would have been worth the risk to plonk this in his yard .Cheers

sounds like he needs to pull his pants up and put his boots on to me. show her cant have the tree!

anttal63 wrote:sounds like he needs to pull his pants up and put his boots on to me. show her cant have the tree!

Mate he's got Balls and big boots and some of the most impressive Bonsai trees i have seen in the last decade "I'kill for"and the Cook looks after them ,i dropped a 6 foot olive off to him a few weeks back and i was off like a gut shot greyhound .No point in rattling chains on the home front .Cheers

then hale to him may he live a long and happy life.

wow...

Took a gamble with the removal of the layers a little early due to a fungus invasion in most of the layers . 12 from 12 and if 1 survives its all good, only cost $16 for the whole tree .