AusBonsai

Hi All,

Here is Hawthorn that I got awhile ago, it has many positives and negative qualities. I have a good idea what has to be done, but I would like to hear peoples opinions/thoughts on the material at hand

Hi Elias
I would air layer of that curvy bit and then chop down nice and low. But that's just me. I have a collected hawthorn chopped down as I am suggesting and now have to grow the top two thirds of the tree. I am aiming for a very classical style. I have no idea how long it will take to regrow the top with these. I am hoping 5 years will get me there but I just don't know!

Something a little different for hawthorns.

Hi Elias,

I look at it this way: what is that hawthorn's greatest quality? Answer: the good size of its trunk.
What is its greatest fault? That trunk is upside down, with the widest part up top.
Personally, I wouldn't keep a tree like that, it would take too long before it became a really worthwhile bonsai.
Airlayering below the inverse taper isn't enough, you also have to remove the coarse, straight section at the top.
There will be big wounds, plus no branching worth mentioning. Some people will no doubt mention the possibility of shari-ing, but I'll skip that. I'm not in favour of dead-wooding non-resinous tree species.
Sorry, best advice Ican give you is 'get another, better tree'.

Lisa

LLK wrote:Hi Elias,

I look at it this way: what is that hawthorn's greatest quality? Answer: the good size of its trunk.
What is its greatest fault? That trunk is upside down, with the widest part up top.
Personally, I wouldn't keep a tree like that, it would take too long before it became a really worthwhile bonsai.
Airlayering below the inverse taper isn't enough, you also have to remove the coarse, straight section at the top.
There will be big wounds, plus no branching worth mentioning. Some people will no doubt mention the possibility of shari-ing, but I'll skip that. I'm not in favour of dead-wooding non-resinous tree species.
Sorry, best advice Ican give you is 'get another, better tree'.

Lisa

I would buy it. A good carving opportunity for great learning is well worth it.

Gday Elias,
I reckon go with pic 4. keep it on that angle, chop off the top part of the thick trunk and bring the foliage back down on the right on the same angle that the trunk comes up on.

Hi Elias,
My ideas are a little less drastic, I like hawthorns very much because they are tough and we sometimes see old material which tells us what a tough life it has had.

This is the one I was talking about above.
Collected last season I now need to select the leader. Carve back for healing and let it grow out. Not sure how long this will take though I am guessing it could be 5 years and I might have the trunk ready?
I have always wanted a nice informal upright broom hawthorn.

Hi guys,

Thanks you all for the replies, opinions and virts, air layering I think will be the way to go as far as making the most out of the movement in the trunk and getting rid of the straight section from the base. (red shows the areas that will be removed)
The trunk does lack taper but it does not reverse taper, perhaps the angle of the pics are a bit deceiving.

Ant I like your little virt, I think Morten Albek did something similar with a Hawthorn sp. this might be something worth trying, as it would also highlight the little hollow and taper at the base

Regarding carving on deciduous species, I don't mind it, if done convincingly it can be a beautiful feature on a deciduous species, this has been shown by many local and international artist.

Hey Brett would be great to put your in the ground for a few years, and yes informal upright broom hawthorns look great, Harry Harrington has a few nice ones

Anyways this is kind of what I had in mind, although always open to the suggestions.

onya mate!!! let me know if ya wanna play!

i like your plan El that will work a treat man, i was thinking something similar but wasnt sure whether you wanted to work with the whole trunk, the last pic has some merit for a taller tree with the movement it has as that from. i think you will work it out to be a corker mate

jamie

That's about what I was thinking Elias. If you do go this way I guess you will be growing a new leader like I am. Mine probably should get another year undisturbed so it can grow lots of nice strong roots before I work it to go in the ground. Might not hurt going in the ground either so will have to wait and see how much room is there
Will you be planting this out in the ground to grow a new leader?