Yew yamadori

Hey everyone, I was sitting in the backyard today looking at trees as I contemplate the task of mulching them in for winter and I pulled some things out from the back of the pile. This yew was collected in michigan 6yrs ago as a neighbor ripped them from the ground. It was one of the first yamadori I had collected thus was not really very promising but I kept it anyway thinking I would make something of it someday. I had a misguided plan for it but as I was looking at it tonight I realized another possibility for it that I was pretty excited about and wanted to ask for any tips on my idea or other considerations should I be on another misguided path. Here is the tree as it was re-potted 4years ago with the misguided idea for it below that (i wanted to explain the weird bending branch).





and the new though



Let me know what you all think.

very interesting option there jim. certainly makes a credible story of the deadwood. i like it. i would also like this design in an upright position with the foliage adjusted of course.

I like the new idea very much. Obviously the deadwood near the base used to be the main trunk, with the new trunk being the original first branch. Very descriptive styling.

I agree with anttal63's suggestion to a certain degree, but I feel that the large deadwood section would need carving away some more as it appears too heavy when the tree is in an upright position.

I wouldn't wste an awful amount of thought on it until you know it will survive. I usually give collected conifers 2 years before I do anything but basic trimming on them.

JimLewis wrote:I wouldn't wste an awful amount of thought on it until you know it will survive. I usually give collected conifers 2 years before I do anything but basic trimming on them.

the tree was collected 6 yr ago.

Thanks all, the original idea I think was good in theory but the trunk was too thin and the overall height I think would have made for awkward proportions. It did sprout some growth on the main trunk but it would take several more years to achieve whereas the new idea would take a couple and ultimately makes better use of the deadwood area of the trunk.

Obviously the deadwood near the base used to be the main trunk, with the new trunk being the original first branch. Very descriptive styling.

I agree, once I laid it over on it's side I saw the exact same story.

I wouldn't wste an awful amount of thought on it until you know it will survive. I usually give collected conifers 2 years before I do anything but basic trimming on them.

It has been around a few years and, as I mentioned in my original post, on the sidelines, mostly neglected unless you consider being moved 300 miles loving care. It's pretty well established and healthy.

Jim, you said the picture was 4 years ago. Do you have a more recent picture?

Hey Carolee, I was hoping to get a picture today and came home to find out we lent out our camera to a friend. I should get it back tomorrow and will get a picture up asap.

Here is the photo of the yew as of today. I cut the end off of the diagonal branch. You can see the existing shari better in these photos since they are more bleached out. I know I can't repot it now but it is ok to style it isn't it? Thanks all.






Flipped into the proposed position.

I re-potted this one this week. No carving yet but I hope to once it's established in the new pot.

Bet your glad you kept it around With the mentioned carving and some time, I think you will really enjoy it. Good idea btw.

Jim Doiron wrote:
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Me like! Nice job Jim!

Generally you don't want to repot it and wire it at the same time. If the wire was already on it, I would consider removing it until the plant recovers from the repotting process. I like the new idea though.

Thanks everyone, I'm looking forward to getting out the carving equipment in the future.

Ross: I did the wiring last fall but I should have mentioned that I took the photo before I removed it. Now that it is re-potted I was going to let it go wild for a year or two to let it fill out.

Updated to come.