Old Boxwood Hedge - Would like Assistance-pic heavy

Hi everyone,
I had originally posted this under "Bonsai Questions" but it was suggested I try posting it here. If it does not belong here, my apologies and the Mod can just delete it... but if more people view this section and give more advice, I'll be happy

I'm new here, but not new to bonsai. I've been creating bonsais on and off for over 30 years. Unfortunately, it's been a few years since I've made one as I've had limited space. If I've made any, It was for friends. Usually they were small trees, never more than a foot or so tall... But this one is definitely going to be my biggest project and I could certainly use some help! This one I think I'll keep

At work, they did some landscaping and pulled out about 50 old Boxwood bushes that formed a long hedge.

I grabbed one... out of the dumpster, that looked interesting. I would have LOVED to have taken all of them! Believe me!

Right now it's in a large pot until I know it's recovered from it's "Hacking" out of the ground.
It was apparently squared and had another bush that was against it... so it's got some large bare patches.
I know I need to cut it down... But I hate to lose some of those amazing, twisted smaller branches at the top... I wish I had the room to root some of them to make smaller Bonsais with.
I think one of the trees will make a nice literati style, I love the branches and knot holes on the center tree too. So, separating them is most likely what I'll do... unless someone thinks they'll look better together.

Anyway... If anyone would like to help... Please copy pics and draw lines where you'd cut and if you want to give an explanation.
Do you thin I should cut them way back and just let them back bud a new crown or wait a while for some new growth? I'm told Boxwoods do not easily back bud below the last leaf on a branch. The last picture is with a blue line showing where I was thinking of just cutting two of them back to so I can possibly get a better look at the tree inside these bushes.
What do you all think?

Anyway... here's some pics from different angles. It's probably about 2 feet tall and wide.

I have more pics that I will post in the next post, since I'm limited to just four... hope that's ok.. and can take more.

Please... Comments and Suggestions!
and if they're too big... sorry... I'll go back in and edit the post to correct if necessary.... if I can
TIA

I think you're cutting some really nice natural movement away in those tops, and leaving a lot of junk that should be shortened or removed from down low. You need to wash the roots with a pressure nozzle, there is probably a nice base/nebari in that mass of fine roots.

I didn't have time to read your post, just saw that last pic and wanted to keep you from making a mistake. Out the door now!

R

Hello Paul. Cutting back the foliage quite heavily, is the way forward. I notice there are plenty of shoots in the interior. At this stage I wouldn't go back past the green, so cut back to forks in the branches or healthy and vigourous looking shoots. Cut back past the foliage and you may lose the branch.

Hi Paul,

That's some real nice material that you have with you. The blue line drawn by you should indicate the final shape of the tree where the tertiary branches end. This means you need to cut back a little shorter than that and allow the secondary and tertiary branches to develop. Yes you need to be careful not to cut beyond the last leaf to risk a dieback. The finished tree would be like the oriental ficus style.... if i can say so. Again considering the fact that this tree has just been collected, you might want it to settle down for a year in a growth pot and start the cutting back next year. Just to play it safe. Rushing in is certainly not my idea as I have lost a couple of trees doing just that. All the best....

Ravi

Hello Paulzie32,
Really nice material.
There could be something like this under these roots like Russel mentioned.

I would not prune back to that blue line right now but go for the advise from Will.
regards, Sunip;)

I was planning on cutting back to the blue line Just to see where I'd need to cut further. I just can't see past all those really neat twisty branches at the top... I KNOW some of them would really make nice smaller trees if I could root them.. The top of the tall one that I suggested as a Literati style, looks like it would make a great Windswept style. But I don't have the facilities or space to try rooting... so I think leaving it as possible literati is easier and better.


So, are you guys suggesting separation of all three? Not now of course. I agree Ravi... The tree is in a larger pot right now and I really want it to recover but I do not think it has the root structure right now to support such a large crown... I feel I should cut some back right now to keep it alive.

Hello Paul,
I see what you mean with literati, but i would leave it as it is and prune here and there a bit back
and bend the branches a bit outwards with guy-wires to get some light in to the group.
As group i like it very much.
When you examine the roots, see if it are separate trees.
Give it a year to get familiar with the possibilities and choose then, they are slow, so you also have some time to think.
Mist the leaves regularly.
I give the Buxus some lime granules in to the soil mixture, does anyone think that it makes no sense to do so?
regards, Sunip;)

Hello Sunip. I know other people that use Lime with Buxus and they swear by it. Box can look sickly and pale but shortly after a Lime treatment, will gain a dark green colour and shine to the leaf.

Can i ask in this tread two questions about Buxus?
I found that Buxus loose vigor when they get root bound
and when leaves are cut to often.
-How you can trigger back-budding on Buxus?
Normally advise is to repot before leaves buds extend, (so after the flower buds).
I heard also the advise to repot in summer,
-has anyone experience with summer repotting Buxus?
regards, Sunip

Hello Sunip. I know little of this specie but Yannick Kiggen recommends repotting during flowering. Backbudding I will leave to those who know more.

-How you can trigger back-budding on Buxus?

Sunip, the Buxus microphylla which seems to be the most common one found in the US does not bud back on old wood. If you have a bud or leaf in that spot, you'll get a branch if exposed to the sun, but if there's no buds, there is nothing I've ever been able to do to start one. Luckily these Buxus usually have scattered dormant branches and small buds waiting to be awakened. If you need a branch and there is nothing green already there, graft on a branch (threadgraft or approach works best).

I have no experience with them, but I've heard that the sempervirens variety (Europe) and maybe others can bud back on old wood.

Nice find Paul! I wish I could have helped you out with some of the other 50 that had to be left behind. I hope you contacted your local club so others could rescue some too.

Hello JmcCloy,
Thank you for you reply,
Buxus Microphylla is indeed very slow.
Mine are Sempervirens, so that should be easier.
Cutting the trunks down for some length would do the trick,
but I do not want to chop the stems down to much.
regards, Sunip;)

Hey All,

I will definitely be searching for some nice nebari after it's recovered. It's looking good so far. The new spring growth wilted a bit for a few days, but gave it more water and it's just fine now.
As for trimming now... Won't be doing much if any for a while. I want it to be nice and healthy. I may just try to get rid of the Square shape it's been given on one side. That should also thin out the crown a bit.
I don't want to lose any of the great material in the top though. I'm going to try to Air layer and maybe try just root-tone on some and keep my fingers crossed.

I photo-shopped a picture to give an idea of what I'm seeing as the Literati style on the right side of Picture three.
I removed the other plants, then bent down the crown and trimmed it a bit. I think it may need to bend down a bit more... definitely thin it out more and make it shorter (the crown, not the tree).
I was going to bend down some of the Jin, but just didn't have time tonight. I can probably get more movement in the trunk, but having never made one in this style, I'm only looking at Internet pics, so, not really sure how much movement would be best.
Are there usually Jin on literati style? I saw some in some pictures.
I'm hoping there's some nice large Nebari to uncover under the small fibrous roots near the surface.
I haven't examined the crown too much so I'm not sure how much I can alter the branches in it... meaning bending some backwards.
Anyway... Here's the pic. What do you think?

Ok.... I just tweaked the picture a bit... Maybe a bit better. I would hope I could get results as good. I think I'm going to start wiring but not cutting. I'll wait a year at least.
But I think If I start wiring now, I can get the branches moved by the time I'm ready to cut. What do you think? At least better than the first?

New



First

Hello Paul. I wouldn't go down this route with this tree. I would use the thick middle trunk in the first picture for a design.

Thanks Will... I do plan on using all three for trees... but I don't' think all three would look good together. Maybe the other two... I'll see. But this one is just like an add on. So, rather than just cut it away, I figured I'd do this with it. It really doesn't have too many possibilities.. It's just a tall straight trunk with a few small branches along it.

I also can't see the other trees too well yet... because of branches. I'll post ideas on them soon though.