LillyPilly from shrub to trainer

[alpineart]

I thought i would give my lilly pilly a trim in anticipation of one day removing it from the garden .Motivated by Bretts dig , i think i might just leave this in the garden for 1 season to get maximum growth from the original roots prior to removal .

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the tree prior to removal of the branches was over 3m high , my estimations were way of in all the sizes

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With the majority of the branches removed , the design is considered .

[alpineart]

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cut loose on the stubs

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a little bit more or is that less

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This is the finished trainer height is 570mm trunk is 130mm and the base is around 200mm at ground level ,now all i need is some serious regrowth and i should have a good trainer for the coming season .Cheers Alpineart

[rowan]

Wow, great job in seeing the shape in there. Looking foreward to seeing how this develops. Hard to see from the pics but how tall will it be when you are done?

[alpineart]

Hi Rowan , i expect the tree will be around 600-700mm maximum finished height .Cheers Alpineart

[Taffy]

Awesome Alpine - going to look real good in a relatively short time when it starts re-shooting everywhere.

[Spoony]

Nice shape going on there alpine.
Awesome looking background view too.
Cheers
Paul

[Dario]

Hi ya Alpine. Woweeeeeeeee!!! that sure is some serious tree you have there
Top work! Sorry, I can't nb if you said how long it has been growing in your garden for?...was this the one that was your first bonsai that you planted in the ground and sort of forgot about??...or am I mixing it up with something else?
Anyway, I think this will be great and can't wait to see it progress over the next few years!
Different species, but perhaps it can replace that fantasticly carved huge plum that you had?? (not that anything could really "replace" it)... I say that as this is also a healthy size!
It must have been an exciting moment taking its clothes off and starting to see the possibilities!!
Cheers, Dario.

[alpineart]

Hi Taffy , they say they shoot and back bud fairly quick !!, guess we will see ??

Hi Spoony , it was one of my first attempts at Bonsai , planted it back in the ground because i didn't have the know-how to maintain it .Top view from every angle in the yard , pity about the roofs but you can't live in suburbia without neighbors .

Hi Dario , yes it was one of my first attempts but i placed it back in the ground as i couldn't see a tree in it .About 14 years ago it was outcast .To be honest it is about 1/4 of the size of my plum , big enough to make an impressive statement in my collection ,that is when its 2-3 years in training it should have some character about it .I had a helping hand on this one , my little bloke took charge of the camera and the sabre saw on a couple of occasions . There was always a tree in there , i just needed some motivation to get my act together . I did understate the size a little when i referenced it to Bretts , i was a little shocked when i put the tape over it , guess its better to understate than exaggerate .I don't have a pot or tray big enough so i think its best left where it is , plus its one less to worry about over Summer .

Cheers Guys Alpine

[Bretts]

That is a ripper Alpine, thanks for showing. It will be great to share notes on development with our two

[Mojo Moyogi]

I reckon this tree should be posted on the Ausbonsai Wiki as an example of good quality urban/garden yamadori.

Unfortunately I often see us Aussies collect trees with little potential of surviving, let alone becoming a decent tree in bonsai cultivation, trees that are collected primarily because they are free.

Cheers,
Mojo

[kcpoole]

I reckon this tree should be posted on the Ausbonsai Wiki as an example of good quality urban/garden yamadori.

Unfortunately I often see us Aussies collect trees with little potential of surviving, let alone becoming a decent tree in bonsai cultivation, trees that are collected primarily because they are free.

Cheers,
Mojo

Awesome Idea Mojo, willdio so this arvo if I get time, Certainly this week

Ken

[alpineart]

Hi Bretts , will keep some close references to this one for sure , power feeding ill start when the first flush of bud appear.

Hi Mojo, if it serves a purpose by all means , as with most collected material , i chase it for the trunk not the tree .

Hi Kc , certainly don't need my permission, as with the blog if anything on that can be usefull here don't hesitate to to cut and paste hack and chop , if you need a password P.M me and it will be done .

Cheers Guys . Alpine

[alpineart]

Well with such a good day i decided to carve the stubs off the stump before too much foliage appeared . With the Wife's help and permission of course , i lay down in luxury on a camper bed and began to smooth the stubs , no Karen only ran the leads out and carried the tools required , and insisted i have the mobile phone in case i cut my leg off .I did ask which one the broken one or the other .

Anyway i removed a few selected shoots

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just to get the cutter in and carved them quite smooth

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with the 100mm angle grinder fitted with 3 tungsten tipped blades

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, makes for a mighty fine carver with more power than a die grinder . Initially i was looking to hollow them out as features , then a re-think during the process had me carving them slightly convex to aid and improve the movement .

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The original cuts were healing over well , about 5-6mm of bark had began to grow over the cuts . This is quite surprising hence i thought i will use this healing speed to conceal the cuts .With all the large stubs removed and carved the same way i did remove about 100mm of the apex back to a shoot heading in the opposite direction . Now i will kick back an allow it to re-shoot and grow on healing the scars while its in the ground .

[alpineart]

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All finished with nice clean flowing lines . Might just sneak up the other end of the garden and carve an old Olive while the tools are out , after all i do have permission .

Cheers Alpineart

[bodhidharma]

But Alpine, remember your bad back. That will be way to big for you I will come and pick it up for you next season so you wont be tempted. Failing that i will swap you for a very old Ulmus procera