AusBonsai

hey guys
got to work on a few of my privits today. this one i worked on a few days ago after it was collected in june.
its grown vigourously since digging it and i have chosen to go with an informal upright style . i didnt get a pic of the tree before working on it so all i basically did was cut the trunk in half, shoots selected and then wire and gave it a bit of a trim. now i just have to let the leader grow on untill im happy with the thickness while working on the branches and then once the leader thickens enough chop it back and start work on the apex.
let me know what you think

thanks,
Hugh

hi mate

privet are a great tree to use, I am amazed at growth rates! this is going to be a nice little trunk, what I suggest to you is consider taking it back even more for a new leader.. down to the lowest branch (on the right in the second pic) this will give the tree more taper and will make the tree more in proportion for the trunks thickness, it wont set you back any more really as you have done the same up top. stick the offcuts in the groud, you will have some extra stock to work with

jamie

The privit do grow pretty fast don't they
I was considering that but I feel that this is the design I want to go for it. I understand what you mean about cutting it back to that first branch which would make sense to get more taper but what I'm aiming for is a kind of feminine looking tree that isn't heavily tapered. I'll try am make a virt later on whick will expain my idea.

Thanks,
Hugh

this one has grown really well over the last few months and had some shaping done to it last weekend. the first right hand branch is being let to grow on for a while to thicken up some more and the first left and branch will be let to grow for a while a while aswell.