AusBonsai

Last one here

Any growing hints, tips and ideas? Not after styling just getting some more info out there on some more of our Iconic Native flowering trees

Ken

I've got a couple of Acacia buxifolia (KC note that 'wattyl' is a brand of paint, 'wattle' is an Australian plant) but only 2 year old. A lot of dieback after pruning lat year but they're growing back from lower shoots.

I haven't grown this species. Shibui's comments match my experience with some others. The die back is not uncommon. Leaving a stump of 1-2 cm seems good advice, as there is often the die back before the tree naturally seals off the wound, so leave room for that and you can shorten the stump later when it turn black.

Acacias are great in general. Different species have strong and weak points. We need more experience to be able to generalise. So have fun, make notes and let us know what happens.

shibui wrote:I've got a couple of Acacia buxifolia (KC note that 'wattyl' is a brand of paint, 'wattle' is an Australian plant) but only 2 year old. A lot of dieback after pruning lat year but they're growing back from lower shoots.

Ahh Bugger about the Spelling, did not even think of it thanks

Thanks for the quick info both of you
the first questions I have do wattle's shoot back for m old wood? and how hard can you root prune?

Ken

the first questions I have do wattle's shoot back for m old wood? and how hard can you root prune?

Still working on the answers to those and other questions Ken. Mine are still very young seedlings which can respond very differently from more mature plants. After pruning they did put out new shoots from bare wood but remember that 'old' wood on mine is only a year old!

My intuition says treat the roots a little like pines - always leave some active feeder roots but, again, I have not had time to gain experience, let alone experience with older material.

As Roger says, experiment but keep records of success AND failure to help us learn more.

Hi Ken,
Below is a Wattle (well i am 99% sure it is ) i dug last winter.It came from the Riverina.I took off about 50% of the roots when i potted it up.It pushed out a little growth in spring , summer, only on existing growth.I have recently wired it up to get something happening.It had several long branches (were rough jins are now ) that had some growth on the ends .I was hoping for some back budding but alas nothing .
Hope this helps Ken.I am strugling a bit myself.Thinking of splitting it in two ?
Regards John.

Ken
How is that buxifolia doing this growing season?

John
How is your ?wattle doing? It looks like a nice tree what ever it is.
Roger

Hi Roger,
The Wattle ? is going OK.I repotted it into a pot in early November,I did not cut back any roots as the pot was nearly as big as the plastic grow pot.I took a photo of one of the few flowers[early november].Hopefuly someone might be able to ID it for me.
Regards John.

John
Your wattle? looks a bit like a hop bush, Dodonaea. Species I'm not sure, but will do some checking tomorrow.

Will be good to see how it bonsais.

Roger

Roger
all 3 varieties i have are doing real good
I have been trying to reduce the length of the trunks by cutting them back a bit more every few weeks. They Seem to shoot back a few inches on the trunk, and then I let them regrow and recover, then chop back to the lowest new shoots. and repeat.

Aside from that they are doing well.

Ken