Boxwood/live oak

Jim, let me ask since you seem to worry about it's health their and color, Do you keep it in the sun?
For years I kept all my boxwoods in the sun or partial shade and the color NEVER looked good, sparce foliage and lots of orange leaves and dead twigging. Years ago I started keeping them in constant shaded areas, not heavy shade but no direct sun. Some have only early morning sun. They took off! Color and foliage. It was not the watering, the pot depth or the fertilizing, it was simply too much sun.

I guess I should also mention that mine have also very rapidly root-bound the pots. Tremendous fine root growth here. I find mine do best if repotted EVERY year!

D.

Wow Jim, that is one HUGE tree. I'd never seen an oak that big. Extremely impressive!

And I agree with you Jim, sometimes you have to sacrifice the "best pot", for the health and vigor of the tree...esp. so in hot humid places like NC. I have my Bald Cypress in an oversized pot, with some organics mixed in to keep it wetter than my other trees. Does it look great? No, but it's healthy.

Dale Cochoy wrote:Jim, let me ask since you seem to worry about it's health their and color, Do you keep it in the sun?
For years I kept all my boxwoods in the sun or partial shade and the color NEVER looked good, sparce foliage and lots of orange leaves and dead twigging. Years ago I started keeping them in constant shaded areas, not heavy shade but no direct sun. Some have only early morning sun. They took off! Color and foliage. It was not the watering, the pot depth or the fertilizing, it was simply too much sun.

D.

Hey Dale
That has been my findings also. I have a good friend in Mobile Al that keeps his on slabs, and they do well for him.

Mitch

John's Island in South Carolina







Have often wondered what a bonsai would look like if the branches found their way back into the soil.

John

WOW! John, great tree.....
and on your own personal island too!....

D.

Dale Cochoy wrote:Jim, let me ask since you seem to worry about it's health their and color, Do you keep it in the sun?
For years I kept all my boxwoods in the sun or partial shade and the color NEVER looked good, sparce foliage and lots of orange leaves and dead twigging. Years ago I started keeping them in constant shaded areas, not heavy shade but no direct sun. Some have only early morning sun. They took off! Color and foliage. It was not the watering, the pot depth or the fertilizing, it was simply too much sun.

D.

It's generally in the sun, but color seems good (except in winter). I'll try it in more shade, Dale and see.

Thanks.

John, that is a lovely tree. Q. virginiana is one of the most amazing species in the world!

There's no reason we couldn't style a boxwood or a youpon or Japanese holly, or even a Privet so their branches touch the soil. At least in Tallahassee, the oaks put down roots at those points, but how well they would support the branch if it became detached from the main tree I don't know.

Dale Cochoy wrote:WOW! John, great tree.....
and on your own personal island too!....

D.

And loaded with female friends. Paradise no doubt!!!

JimLewis wrote:

In my eye you need a bit more height to carry off a long shallow pot - the tree is a bit too squat now.

But "squat," wide and massive is the hallmark of the species this is trying to emulate.

Maybe I didn't make my point clear enough. I accept that you're trying to emulate these trees in the wild and I think you are right in doing so. I also think you are making a great job of it.

My point was simply a general one about long, shallow pots, which is why I introduced it by saying "hypothetically speaking"). IMHO trees that go best in that type of pot are ones that have a bit of height. Yours is squat (deliberately so) therefore IMHO a long, shallow pot would not be best for it. It was not a criticism of the squatness of the tree; just my personal rationale for why the type of pot suggested would not by my choice. I think you better get a feel for the power of the tree with the diameter of pot it's in, although (again IMHO) I myself would use something a little shallower if the health of the tree allowed it.

This is a great thread, lots of good info here.

May I post one I've been working on?

Russell
You took the words right off my keyboard. I also have one that i would like to post for comment. I belive you originally collected it a few years ago.

Jim
Well Jim, how about it?

Mitch

Okay by me. All has been said that needs/can be said about my tree.

Jim
Here is my live oak style Boxwood. I have had it for a couple if years. I bought it at a auction as garden yamadori. If i remeber right our own Russell Coker collected it. I don't have a picture of it but I have been styling it to memic a very old live oak in Audubon zoo in New Orleans. It's the tree next to monkey hill that generations have climbed me in included as a much younger child.
I have just finished repotting and thinning the leaves and installing wire as needed. It has a way to go but I am pleased with it so far. The pot was custom made by my friend and potter Byron Myric. It measures 26" x 16" x 2". Next year I will tweak the tree placement. I didn't want to remove to many roots on the first potting.
I have some small areas to carve to enhance taper on some branches and also some hollows.

All comment and suggestions welcome.

Ps this is my first picture post from my iPhone, that's a major accomplishment for me. I am computer/ technology challenged.

Mitch

Mitch

I want it back.

I did give some to our auction that I pulled out of a trash heap down the street from my house. I only kept one. Damnit.

Russell

Thanks, I needed a good laugh.
Yes I kinda remember you telling how you acquired it. How long ago was it? Maybe 2007?

How would you improve it next year?

Where is your tree?

Mitch

Gorgeous tree, Mitch. I still think the relatively shallow/wide pot accentuates the tree and adds to the feeling of a majestic, massive old live oak.

OK Russell, where's the one you kept? Don't keep us in suspense!

Chris
Thanks, yea me too I think Byron nailed it. I need to finish the carving and clean the bark.

I know Russells tree is a killer. I havn't seen it in a while.

Mitch

Russell Coker wrote:

This is a great thread, lots of good info here.

May I post one I've been working on?

Nope, we have seen enough bonsai for now





of course you can post a tree you goofy goober,

its what we live for. Well that and pizza,
Rock... out

oh and ice cream, bonsai pizza and ice cream

Well, here's my baby...





And here's one I'm styling like it...







It has a long way to go, I decided to position the branches with guy wires this first go around. We'll see how it goes.

I'll get a picture of the other one from the trash heap tomorrow - weather permitting.

Mitch Thomas wrote:Jim
Here is my live oak style Boxwood. I have had it for a couple if years. I bought it at a auction as garden yamadori. If i remeber right our own Russell Coker collected it. I don't have a picture of it but I have been styling it to memic a very old live oak in Audubon zoo in New Orleans. It's the tree next to monkey hill that generations have climbed me in included as a much younger child.


All comment and suggestions welcome.

Ps this is my first picture post from my iPhone, that's a major accomplishment for me. I am computer/ technology challenged.

Mitch

Mitch

This is a very nice tree Mitch!
I love the lowest branch touching the ground. reminds me of a huge mango tree. i like to put a tire swing under that branch.

regards,
jun

Russell
I like the way your going. It's going to be a show stopper! The inspiration trees are awesome. The southern live oaks are a wonder of natural engenieering. I am looking forward to seeing your other tree. I wish JD would show some of his here.

Jun
Thanks, yea I can all most see in my minds eye me and my kids climbing it. I really need to clean the soil line nabari. I uncovered about a inch and a half lower, the base diameter is close to 8". My friend from Hawaii says it reminds him of a Monkey Pod tree.

Mitch

Russell,

Bringing down the branches with the guy wires has definitely given the tree a lot of "oak character". I especially like the view in the last photo.

Couple of technical questions about the use of the guy wires...(1) are you using plastic tubing to protect the branches (tough to see from the photos) and, (2) what are most of the wires attached to at the pot level - do you have wires embedded in the soil, or are they attached to roots?

Very well done on both!

This is a 4-year-old cutting from my big one.

This is a very informative and inspirational thread! Many thanks to everyone for their contributions!
--Gene

GeneMartin wrote:This is a very informative and inspirational thread! Many thanks to everyone for their contributions!
--Gene

I agree. Having 2 potential boxwood candidates for this style, I am even more grateful. Keep it coming and thanks again!

coh wrote:Russell,

Bringing down the branches with the guy wires has definitely given the tree a lot of "oak character". I especially like the view in the last photo.

Couple of technical questions about the use of the guy wires...(1) are you using plastic tubing to protect the branches (tough to see from the photos) and, (2) what are most of the wires attached to at the pot level - do you have wires embedded in the soil, or are they attached to roots?

Thanks Chris.

I really had to do some major branch moving so I figured this was the quickest way. The wire comes up through the drainholes and is padded with plastic tubing around the branches. My plan (best laid plans...) is to finish the finer wiring so it doesn't look like a hot mess. This one is really typical of younger boxwoods from landscapes. This one was in my front yard. I've found some huge old ones in a yard and I'm trying to find out who owns them and if they'd let me dig them. I may not be up to the challenge.