AusBonsai

There are a number of Claret Ash (Fraxinus oxycarpa Raywoodii) planted by the local council in my street and occasionally when they drop seed you get the Desert Ash as the prodigy. There was one growing in the garden of my neighbor and as a good citizen I told him that it would grow too big for his garden. While I was there I gave it a good trim (to keep it in check you understand) and I might have given it a couple more trims over the last couple of years (as good neighbors do). As luck would have it he is about to "re-do" his front garden and the ash had to go. Again, like a good neighbor I dug it out for him. I try to help out where I can!
The ground is very dry here but I am confident that it will survive. In the coming years a few more trims and a bit of a carve and all will be good. I hope.

A close up of the tree.

And now all potted up. I used my usual theory of getting it into the smallest practical pot.

Those pesky seedlings.

Well done @Watto!

occasionally when they drop seed you get the Desert Ash as the prodigy.

You must think this particular one is really good -
Prodigy: a young person with exceptional qualities or abilities; an outstanding example of a particular quality; an amazing or unusual thing, especially one out of the ordinary course of nature.

Not sure it is that exceptional myself but maybe I'm not seeing it properly?
Ash are really tough trees. I think you could probably dig them any time of year and expect survival. This one should do just fine, even if the ground is a bit dry.
They seem to pop up wherever there's a larger tree to drop seeds. Does that make them prodigious, fecund or prolific?
Most seedlings are pretty straight and boring so your foresight in pruning occasionally has paid off here.
Ash are definitely worth considering , especially as collected seedlings - rid our environment of a few more weeds.

I note the 'product placement' in the first picture. Hope the suppliers of the root slayer are giving some sort of kickback for your advertising. I hear these shovels are really great for bonsai collectors. Where did you get yours?

Hi Watto
Hope your neighbour appreciates the lengths you have gone through to help them.!
I'm working on a few of my own neighbours with a similar approach.
It's interesting just how bonsai can bring neighbours closer together.

Gotta love a free tree Watto! I am going to remove some weeds tomorrow and dig some olives

Shibui, the only money that has changed hands is from my pocket to theirs in relation to the root slayer. I am of course holding out hope. PS - I bought it on line, a Christmas present from me to me.
I was hoping for a few more years of ground growing but there is a little bit if "trunk crackling" so that should continue.
Good luck with your dig Jake. We expect photos of your dig Robb.

Thanks mate trying a new spot so fingers crossed I find some good stuff

Watto wrote:There are a number of Claret Ash (Fraxinus oxycarpa Raywoodii) planted by the local council in my street and occasionally when they drop seed you get the Desert Ash as the prodigy.

It seems that the species "oxycarpa" has been relegated to a form of "angustifolia" (i.e the current name is Fraxinus angustifolia f. oxycarpa) http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSea ... d=609134-1 so I guess it is no surprise that the progeny (I think this is what you meant- right Watto?) looks like desert ash (Fraxinus angustifolia).

The cultivar 'Raywood' is sterile and certainly the trees in my area have no viable seed. I guess nature always finds a way!

One year on and this tree was doing fine. The decision was made to "re-do" the branching (so I had more control) so I cut off almost all the existing branches and did a little carving near the top to improve taper.
Hopefully I will get a few buds to burst in good spots along the trunk. Fingers crossed.

Good start. Love the taper. What style you have in mind for it?

Ash are very very hardy as shibui has mentioned.
I have one and made huge direction change 15 yrs later and it was able to regrow and heal very quickly.

I am still struggling wit how much sun they need. I left mine in full sun and it struggled even though I never let it dry out.
I went on holiday and moved it into partial shade and I came back to see a lush green ball of new branches.

A good lesson for me with the accidental experiment. I found the new buds can't handle our hot sun very well and it holds the plant back.

Does anyone else have similar experience?

The style will depend on the amount and location of buds this coming season, so I will post an update or two over the coming years.
This tree grows in partial shade during the summer but in full sun (if there is such a thing) in winter.