Any Potential For Old Boxwood?

Erik

This is a boxwood my neighbors wanted out of their yard. I believe it is a Wintergreen and about 30 years old.

I'm just wondering if anybody sees any potential in this thing. I'm not sure what it has as far as nebari go. I'll scrape away some soil in the spring and take a peek.

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Erik

Here's a close-up.

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Erik

And one last close shot. I'll prune the wimpy low branches in the spring to get a better idea of structure, and probably do an overall trim. If I'm not convinced by then, it'll find a nice little spot in my yard.

Thanks

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Ralph

Hi Erik,
I cleared out 8 boxwood shrubs that were in my front yard last Spring. I put 4 back in the ground on the side of my house, maybe for some later use, and the other 4 I put in oversized tubs about the size as your growbox. I posted shots of these 4 on here earlier in the year as well, but decided to leave them alone, until they were better established, I really had to abuse the roots to get them to fit in the tubs. I got lots of good advice on their care from the folks here. I would like to get at least one good bonsai out of the bunch, but as a novice I will relish the experience I get out of working on them.
Looks like you have a nice one there as well. Hopefully it will have a balanced spreading nebari on it that will give it character. Keep us posted.

mkonig

Hi Eric

Although I don't have any experience with this species, I would keep the thin lower branches and get rid of at least one of those big branches on the fork. There is some nice movement in the other smaller branches just above the two big ones. Just remember, you can always make a small branch fatter but once its fat there is no easy way to reduce it (unless you are in to carving deadwood).

I think the tree has potential and i would love to see what you can do with it.

All the best
Mike

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TreeBay

This one is difficult. Only two options come to mind

One is to go with either of the large branches as a continuation of the trunkline, and to replant at a new angle in the ground. It will be several more years to create a good piece of stock.

Another is to remove both of the large branches. I would want to see other views of the tree before recommending this, but it looks like the way to go at the gut level. Unfortunately those branches might also be blocking clear views of the other sides.

Regards,

Matt

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BrianBay9

The challenge here is what appears to be a reverse taper from the soil line to the junction of those two massive branches. To deal with that it seems you'd almost have to trunch chop below there, and use one of those smaller branches as the new leader.

Second alternative - airlayer at the reverse taper and create a clump-style forest out of several of the large branches.

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FredL

Interesting challenge! It seems to me that a trunkline will have to be established and that means at least one of the two major lower branches will have to go. A lower trunk like you have looks to me to be a major asset, however, and it would seem to me worth it to set about a long term program to develop this tree into a bonsai. As it stands, it does not seem to me to lend itself to short term initial styling as a bonsai.

Fred

TreeBay

I was sort of thinking about removing the two large branches and trying to style an oak-type tree from the remaining apex. It would take some work, but not nearly so much as regrowing the entire top.

Regards,

Matt

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