my new acacia

Trim and
repotted my new big acacia. Any opinion on shaping it? Thanks.

I'd remove the 2 thick trunks that you have shortened? The remaining trunk has nice taper and you can develop the tree with only one trunk line and movement?

You have posted only 1 pic so comments are likely not fair on the tree or you...

Thanks for your opinion on my tree Brendan. I was thinking also of sawing off those two odd over sized trunks, waiting only to see new leaf growth to know if it is establishing itself because as of now it shows shock from uprooting. Mano

It is late spring early summer in SA, so the tree wants to grow. It will focus on leaf production, and it will use stored energy from the roots to push out new buds.

If you have repotted and trimmed it all at once then you can't really do more harm by cutting them off.

Those thick branches, if cut off, won't be taking up any of the nutrients from the roots. etter to focus the energy where you want it.

You do need to make sure it is kept out of direct sun for most of the day until it has budded and the new leaves have hardened off. Early morning and late afternoon sun, for an our or 2, will suffice.

Don't over water it, but if the roots dry out too much they will die fast. So I'd be checking it daily and making sure the water is getting right through the whole pot and then draining away.

Great bit of material, though!

Thanks again Brendan for your useful tips. Temperature is fluctuating here, a bit cooler today and I saw new shoots of leaves on some cut branches. I am thinking of drastically cutting most branches leaving only two at the bottom left and one at the bottom right, leaving the big trunk like a big stump, but that scares me a bit that the tree won't establish. Originally this overgrown tree had an extended big root going beyond the pavers where it was standing. It is now relying on the old side roots around it . I will definitely cut those 2 odd branches, but would you advise if I should do that planned drastic trim or wait a bit until new more leaves appear. Mano

Post more oics from all sides, with close ups of the roots and you will get better advice?

Soil mix ?

Typical tree shape ?

How closely cropped can you keep the leaves ?

How tall is the plant / trunk size ?
Until.
Khaimraj

Will take snaps of the tree around it but I doubt about the roots as it is already rooting in the pot.

As for Khaimraj, this is an african tree that grows commonly in the savannah, wild or even in urban landscapes. It is always in upright position position with an umbrella like or flat layered canopy particularly in the wild where animals like giraffe, tall deers like kudu or even elephants graze on it hence giving it that peculiar shape. It could have a slanting shape due to being knocked down by these animals and started to grow again. So that should be at least the idea of its shape as a bonsai or otherwise whatever it should look good. Take a look at the googled photo I am attaching here. As for the soil, I just use premixed bonsai soil normally bought at the nurseries but adding some sand for good drainage. The current height is less than a meter. The trunk size is 20 to 25 cm diameter at the base.

So - 20 to 25 cm - at 1 to 6 as the trunk/height goes for grace = 120 cm to 150 cm [ height or width ]

Sand as in particles sized at 3 mm or 5 mm ?
Fine sand 1 mm or less may not help that much.

Did you read the about - Ball bearing principle - left by Ms. Cohen [ back in 2010 or so]
To enable the soil to be freely draining and be able to receive fresh 02 easily with every watering ?

Apologies for insulting your intelligence if you already knew the above.
Should be beautiful effort in time.
Thanks for showing.
Please keep the group updated.
Laters.
Khaimraj

No worries giving me professional infos, I appreciate it. Actually I used silica, the one normally used for swimming pool filter and I guess that is big enough than fine sand and I noticed the draining action after watering is fairly good. I have a bit of dilemma as I found out colonizing ants carrying white eggs are gathering around the trunk, most likely attracted to the peeling bark of acacia. I don't want to apply any chemicals due to worry that might affect the plant so I did concocted 50/50 mixture of water and white vinegar and sprayed a bit on the surface of the trunk and soil. This morning the ants were gone and the tree is sprouting actively. Will keep you guys posted of the transformation of this beauty. Thanks again.

Vinegar is very acidic, which may kill the tree. In that concentration you may have a problem.

When did you do this?

Just yesterday. I sprayed lightly on the surface, thinking the acid will not penetrate the inner part of the tree, I inspected it this morning but it seems doing okay.

It can take a week to a month before the effects can be seen - and by then its too late.

Changes in soil ph affect trees quite dramatically. How much did you spray on (in millilitres)?

OK maybe not a big deal:

http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=15709

Brendan,

I think your wait and see down the road attitude is sensible.
So hopefully nothing will happen.
Laters.
Khaimraj

As I have said that minimum amount on the surface was only used and it seems doing okay now. Please see 4 more pics of my brave drastic pruning. From there, you can suggest how it



would further go. In the meantime a lot of tiny shoots are sprouting around the top area of the tree.

OK so now do a drawing of the design you want in 3 - 5 years. That will guide you to choose the right buds and to rub off the ones that don't fit the design. Let's see your drawing - I draw it on paper then take a photo of the pic as I am a tech twit.

Or you could shoot the front, from the front make the container's lip horizontal.
Then take good tracing paper and a 9b pencil draw the outline and then add on your branches/ branchlets
and a simple mass for the canopy.

Or print the image and draw on that.

It can look like this or b
Laters.
Khaimraj

url=https://servimg.com/view/19002756/128][/url]



b] url=https://servimg.com/view/19002756/130][/url]

Tried my best to illustrate how I would like it to grow as slightly slanting but upright tree where branches would reach like a flat canopy sideways.

Hi Brendan and Khaimraj,

This is how the tree look now with its wild growth. I am at a lost how to start shaping or must just let the branches mature first before wiring and trimming.



Mano

Mano,

that looks more like a - grow and clip - tree.

Read my comments in the Celtis 1 article.
Try the same.

I would not horizontal the branches as you showed in the diagram.

Select the branches you want and let them extend ---------- 2 m ?

But you really need a diagram to work from.
laters.
Khaimraj

That's not going to be a Pierneef style. I agree with K - get some drawings going. Start with the trunk and then draw the shape of the tree as if it was huge and in full leaf. That will give you an idea of what branches go where.

Best for 2017 for you guys.

This is how it looks now after almost a month of drizzle.  Had it wired and tamed a bit those viciously thorned wayward and upward branches. Let some branches develop on the bottom right and fan shaped it. I know that the trunk is too fat and shape differs from a Pierneef looking tree but I guess it can mold itself into its own character.  
What do you think?

Looks good, just needs time.

mano javier wrote:
(...)
What do you think?

I feel it looks great, you're on the right way to a great tree methinks...