starting my oak tree

jackied

Another question. I've bought an oak sapling about 4 feet tall with quite an interesting shaped trunk, but not particularly wide in diameter.

I know I need to let it go on growing either in its big pot or in the ground until the trunk's wider. However, I don't know if I should chop the top off now, or after it's done the growing-in-the-ground thing! Any advice? Presumably when I do chop off the top I do so somewhat lower the eventual height that I want the bonsai to be?

Thanks v much
Jackie

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Joanie

Sort of both.... you can put it in the ground, then chop it at some point. Then choose one of the new buds that you will get to be a new 'leader', let that grow out for a while, and chop it again higher. That way, you get a tapering trunk that diminishes diameter as it goes upward.

Depending on how fast or slow growing the oak is, a chop may only be needed once every year or two.

Pick up one of the Peter Adams books, he gives great advice about understanding trunk chops. Also go on Evergreen's website and read his articles... www.evergreengardenworks.com

Joanie

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rockm

An oak sapling is two or three decades off from being a good oak bonsai.

The primary attraction of oaks (And oak bonsai) are their strong, stout trunks and gnarled branches. Older trees are usually a better start for bonsai purposes.

Plant your tree in the ground. Let it go for at least five years to develop a thicker trunk, then chop it back, choose a leader, wait another four or five for the leader to develop. Chop it back, collect the tree.

During this time you may also want to undercut the roots every three years or so to promote a more compact rootball. This treatment, however will slow the development of the top.