yamadori Privet

I collected this a while ago and would like some advise on which way to go with it now ? thanks ....John

Wow! Handle with care. That's a keeper! If it weren't almost impossible to cram a rock under mature roots and make it look natural, this would make a great root-over-rock bonsai. As is, the roots will be the major attraction for this plant for a good while, so an exposed root style wold be called for.

You don't give us a hint on where you live, or your bonsai background, but this one is worth getting local help on if you feel you need it.

Have fun.

JimLewis wrote:Wow! Handle with care. That's a keeper! If it weren't almost impossible to cram a rock under mature roots and make it look natural, this would make a great root-over-rock bonsai. As is, the roots will be the major attraction for this plant for a good while, so an exposed root style wold be called for.

You don't give us a hint on where you live, or your bonsai background, but this one is worth getting local help on if you feel you need it.

Have fun.

Jim, I believe that is tuffa rock already under the roots.
Looking good John!

Cheers Jim , I live in the north of England .

I attached this tree to a piece of tufa and burried it a couple of seasons back and have now dug it out ,it is growing well on there .It is the styling of the tree that I am wanting advise on thanks ...John

Hi Lee , I have my eye on a couple of trees now the hawking has finnished , ring me and we can get out collecting ....Osky

Would the administration please correct the spelling on the title. Some of our ESL members may get very confused.
Iris

Neither Yamadori or a Private. I should imagine the Privet is from a garden? Nonetheless... A very fine root over rock in the making and it sits extremely well for a tree planted only two years ago. The branches need pruning back a lot harder and any resulting shoots wired within the fist year. The large trunk chop needs hollowing too.

will baddeley wrote:Neither Yamadori or a Private. I should imagine the Privet is from a garden? Nonetheless... A very fine root over rock in the making and it sits extremely well for a tree planted only two years ago. The branches need pruning back a lot harder and any resulting shoots wired within the fist year. The large trunk chop needs hollowing too.

Thanks Will , It was collected from and old railway bank .....John

Hello John. If you cut those branches back leaving a half inch stub, you should be rewarded with lots of new buds to play with. Privet is very good at budding from old wood.

will baddeley wrote:Hello John. If you cut those branches back leaving a half inch stub, you should be rewarded with lots of new buds to play with. Privet is very good at budding from old wood.

Cheers Will I will do that and try to update later in the season ....John

Here is another privet that I will do some carving on ....John

JohnOstranica wrote:Here is another privet that I will do some carving on ....John

I like that one John. More attractive than the root-over-rock to my eye.

ATB, Lee.

Nice privets, John - I took several from an old hedge a few years ago, and I'm surprised that we see so few of them as bonsai, considering how many great specimens must be sitting around in old hedges around the world. As you know, they recover from collection and potting almost immediately, and it is very easy to develop them quickly, with multiple cycles of wiring and pruning each growing season. Is there some reason for their lack of popularity, I wonder?

Hello Chris. I would say that Privet is a popular specie for bonsai in the UK. From the 1920's to the 60's, most housing estates were planted with Privet hedges. We have a huge amount of material on our doorstep....so to speak.