Grampz's Japanese Boxwood Clump Creation

grampz

I would once again like to express my thanks to Mr. Al for starting the It's about time thread, and I would like to share the start, progress, and the “how you got it to this point” of a ‘triple trunk’, landscape collected, ‘Japanese boxwood’, that I am working on to achieve a ‘clump live oak’ feeling...This tree was collected along with many others in January of 2004...All were planted as typical ‘3 trees in a pot’ landscape hedge material 30+ years ago, and when collected most were fused to the point that they could not be separated...In all I collected 42 pots of trees most of them being triple trunks...I have since given away, traded, and donated to the club all but about a dozen trees...I only lost one tree, and the other tree in the same pot is still very much alive...

Those of us who have lived among the southern live oak have noticed the older trees have very little taper on long branches often originating low on the trunk and having close to the same diameter of the trunk at the base of the branch...Actually, giving the appearance of a trunk coming off of a trunk...These often ‘dip’ downward to touch the ground before then rising to the canopy, or may originate in the canopy and swoop ground ward in usually a ‘snake like’ fashion...One of the most outstanding characteristics is the ‘curvy’ trunks and branches...This is one of the things that made the species so valuable for ship building for many years...The curves and angles could be used as needed, and were much stronger than any type of joinery developed by man...In order to achieve a ‘truly believable’ live oak feeling in a bonsai, I believe it is desirable to have some or all of the following traits; many curves and sharp bends, long branches with very little taper, branches touching or almost touching the soil, and a tree that is wider than it is tall in at least a 2:1 ratio...Many of these traits are the opposite of what we have always been taught make a ‘good’ bonsai...I have found the ‘Japanese boxwoods’ to be ‘a natural’ for the ‘live oak form’, and quite pleasurable to work with...I also learned a few new things myself in the process of working this tree due to new products and techniques discovered on the internet...

It has been mentioned a few times on the forum about the “lessons” in the chat room, and this is the tree that started the series of sharing techniques and photos that many have participated in...Mr. BrianBay9 posted a very large boxwood on the forum well over a year ago and the responses seemed to echo that his only option was to chop it back severely and regrow everything because boxwoods could not be bent...Rather than contribute to the arguments that so often occur when differing opinions or other techniques are mentioned [because some seem to have the need to always be right and always make other peoples opinion wrong], I chose to speak with Mr. Brian in chat and share a technique that had worked well for me for many years...While I would certainly agree they do require special treatment due to the fragile nature of the bark, the tendency to break easily, the stiffness of the wood, and the ‘memory’ factor [return to their former position after the wire is removed], with caution, “time”, and a bit of effort they can definitely be worked as bonsai...There you go Mr. Al, yes it is ‘about time’...

Regards
Behr

__________________
As the Master departed the workshop,
he could have sworn he heard some
one saying rather loudly...
"I thought he would never leave"
San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc.

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grampz

I began the training of this tree by planting it in a wooden grow box on June 24, 2004 [not a recommended re-pot time unless you have experience reading the species you are working with]...Photo #37903 & #37904 show the front and back respectively of the tree...My desire was to remove as little as possible of the existing trunks, branches, and foliage, due to the slow development of wood on the species, to achieve the styling in a minimum number of years...

The best method I have found for bending trunks and branches on boxwoods is to begin with guy wires and bend them in the direction you desire for them to go...The wood grow box is especially well suited for this...I have even used turn buckles fastened to the sides of the grow box with drill screws and slowly pull large [over 1 inch diameter] branches down over a couple seasons...I have found best results are obtained by putting guy wires on in late spring after the initial growth push, and do not remove them until next spring when new growth starts...After the new growth slows the following spring, I redo the guy wires if needed...With this particular tree I did rush this process somewhat by removing the guy wires for a couple weeks, and then redoing them in the same growing season...But of course again, “it’s about time”...

Regards
Behr

Attached Images

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	02-6-24-4 bk.jpg (70.2 KB, 310 views)

__________________
As the Master departed the workshop,
he could have sworn he heard some
one saying rather loudly...
"I thought he would never leave"
San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc.

grampz

Good padding on the branches is essential...I use 1/4 inch thick pieces of cork [available at most hobby stores] next to the branch, or a short piece of garden hose split lengthwise works well...It is also useful to use a flat piece of sheet metal over the cork or hose to help distribute the pressure on larger branches [over 1½ inch]...I then run the wire [I use stainless steel wire] through plastic tubing sitting on top of the sheet metal, hose section, or cork...I try to place the guy wires so that they are opposing each other and by doing so they equalize the pull...I do not wire the tree into the grow box but use the downward pressure of the guy wires to hold the roots in place...

Photo #37907 shows the tree July 3rd 2004 after the initial removal of a few trunk/branches that definitely were not needed in the final design, and the first guy wires were placed...There is a turn buckle in the front left corner pulling the trunk in the proper direction...These can be tightened a bit each month to slowly pull the trunk or branch...Photo #37908 shows the tree on April 7th 2005 just prior to removal of the second guy wire placement, and potting in a ceramic training pot...Slightly less than one year in training at this point...

After a season or 2 using guy wires the branches and trunks are already headed in the direction you wish them to be bent, plus they are much more flexible and easier to bend…I am not sure of the reason for this but I suspect the fibers of the inner xylem and heartwood have become somewhat separated from the bending that has occurred with the guy wires, and the “time” spent in the position…

Regards
Behr

Attached Images

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	04-3-7-5.jpg (69.9 KB, 511 views)

__________________
As the Master departed the workshop,
he could have sworn he heard some
one saying rather loudly...
"I thought he would never leave"
San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc.

grampz

Now to the wiring...Photo #37909 taken April 23rd 2005 shows the first wiring of the tree, and #37910 is a shot of the base showing the fused trunks...Because of the fragile nature of the boxwood bark it is extremely easy to strip the cambium from the branch, and the wire has a tendency to cut into the bark with just normal bending…Over the course of years I have used many things to wrap and protect branches when bending...My first attempt, long before I read my first book on the subject, involved using corn husk and holding those in place with plastic electrical tape...I’m still not sure which did the most good in the bending process, but I do know the removal was a bit undesirable...I have also used raffia or strips of rubber inner tube to wrap branches with good results...Some time back I learned through this forum and a couple others about the use of ‘Coban’ or ‘Vetrap’ from 3M...This is a stretch bandage material that will adhere to itself but not to skin and hair, a great concept in theory…After a bit of searching I did find a source for ‘Coban’ and gave it a try on some conifers and yaupon holly...It worked ok so I decided to try it on boxwoods...When I first wired this tree I ran out of ‘Coban’ before it was finished, and the place where I purchased it was out of stock, however they did have a similar product made by the Johnson & Johnson company called ‘Coach’ even a bit cheaper and also available at Wal-Mart...After about 10 months of exposure to the elements and the Texas heat I found the removal of the ‘Coban’ was a disaster, needing to be cut off, while the ‘Coach’ wrap could very easily be unwrapped...Now I use nothing but ‘Coach’ to wrap the branch stretching and overlapping it about ½ of the width of the bandage...I purchase the 3 inch wide rolls [less than $4.00 at Wal-Mart] and using an ‘exacto knife’ cut them into 1 inch and ¾ inch strips for ease of use...

I then run some pieces of heavy un-annealed copper wire [8, 10 or 12 gauge] along the length of the larger branches [3/8 inch and larger] and hold it in place with a few strips of the ‘Coach’ wrap [tape, or something to hold the wires in place]…I try to use at least 2 and preferably 3 or 4 wires laterally, if the strength is unnecessary I sometimes will use aluminum wire for the additional wires...In effect this provides a cage of sorts to protect the bark of the branch or trunk and holds the branch in the desired position...After this I wire the branch in the normal way with annealed copper or aluminum wire, and because of the lateral wires the spiral winding can be wired quite tightly yet it is kept from heavy contact with the branch thereby avoiding blocking the sap transferal and the bulging of tissue normally associated with wires cutting into a branch...I then bend the branch into the position I desire…Usually one entire season will be enough “time” to set most branches, but some of the larger ones may need to be rewired after the spring growth spurt…But as we all know, all good things take some “time” to achieve...

Regards
Behr

Attached Images

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	06-4-23-5 base.jpg (70.6 KB, 259 views)

__________________
As the Master departed the workshop,
he could have sworn he heard some
one saying rather loudly...
"I thought he would never leave"
San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc.

grampz

This wiring was removed in late January of 2006, [a bit premature, but fortunate for me in the long term, actually] and photo #37912 was taken on April 5th 2006 at our club meeting where I used the tree for reference in a program I did on bending large and difficult branches and trunks...Although not as plain as I would prefer photo #37913 shows something I discovered that is a definite plus for using the ‘Coach’ or ‘Coban’ wrap...When I removed the wrap after about 10 months I found the bark of the tree where I had wrapped each branch had a wonderful fissured appearance of very old bark...Where the branches and trunks were not wrapped the bark had a more smooth look of younger bark...I have not had this happen to this extent with any other type of wrap I have used, I believe this is because the moisture can so easily penetrate the bandage keeping the area more moist than if not wrapped, yet there is also a free exchange of air to prevent molds and fungus...The ‘Coach’ wrap is so much easier to use and remove I am now using it exclusively on most species of trees...No soaking, separating, and straightening before applying, just cut off a desired length and wrap the branch, and the appearance is not terribly offensive...As you can see in photo #37913 some areas were not wrapped and did not acquire the fissured bark, also I was not satisfied with some of the branch/trunks final position, so I decided to redo the tree wrapping all areas and leave it wired for a longer period because after all, it really is “about time”...

Regards
Behr

Attached Images

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	08-4-5-6-bark.jpg (69.7 KB, 252 views)

__________________
As the Master departed the workshop,
he could have sworn he heard some
one saying rather loudly...
"I thought he would never leave"
San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc.

grampz

After the spring growth push I began re-wiring the tree this time being sure to wrap all trunks and branches with the ‘Coach’ wrap even though on some branches the wrap is only being held on with 1 or 2 mm aluminum wire and no bending has taken place...
Photo #37914 is the tree now...I just finished wiring the tree again this time making a few more sharp bends and many more gradual curves trying to avoid crossing branches in the same visual plane of the tree...The branches and trunks are much more congested looking with all of the wire and wrapping in place, and will appear thinner and more open once it is removed...I will also be making some minor adjustments in a couple months on branches that I thought were reaching the limit, but still need a bit more bending...

My 7 year old grand daughter has often been with me when I have been taking photos or just enjoying looking into the canopy of old live oak trees in the area...After the first wiring she saw the tree and heard me explaining to everyone that I was trying to achieve a live oak feeling, she went over to the tree, got down below the bench and looked up into the canopy...She then announced to all present, “yeah, grampz, it looks like a live oak”...As of this post she has not seen the tree after this wiring, but I have no doubt, she will get down to look up into the canopy and see if ‘ole grampz’ got it right this time...I am including a ‘Gillian’ view of the tree [photo #37915], and I will never again try to achieve a live oak appearance without also considering this view...Them grandbabies are so precious, wonderful, and bright...They can sure teach you a lot if you are willing to learn, and if you will only take the “time” to allow them to teach you...

Regards
Behr

Attached Images

	09-6-18-6.jpg (71.2 KB, 375 views)
	10-6-18-6-up.jpg (71.3 KB, 286 views)

__________________
As the Master departed the workshop,
he could have sworn he heard some
one saying rather loudly...
"I thought he would never leave"
San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc.

grampz

Photos #37916 & #37917 are close-ups from the front showing more detail of the wrapping, lateral wires, and the spiral wiring...This wiring will remain in place until about this time next year except for the smaller branches that have not been wrapped with the ‘Coach’ bandage...I may also wire some of the smaller branches that are not currently wired as they grow since they do have a tendency for straight growth...Other than that it will pretty much be pinching to maintain the silhouette of the tree, although I will be conscious of trying to achieve a more natural look rather than a sheared hedge appearance as I continue the pinching back...

I am planning to have Mr. Dale Cochoy create a pot for this tree, and will be getting with him in September or October after his show season is over and he has time to work on ‘commissioned pots’...It is currently in a 2 ½ inch deep pot but the root system could have just as easily been placed into a 1 ½ inch deep pot...I would like to put the tree in a more shallow but longer oval, with a much lower profile and a light color glaze, when I repot it this December or January...About this time next year I hope to remove the wiring and wrap and have the tree ready for show...This would be a time span of about 3 years, and I am quite happy with that...This process does take some “time”, but is much quicker than clip and grow on some boxwood material, in my opinion…

Regards
Behr

Attached Images

	11-6-18-6-detail.jpg (71.1 KB, 228 views)
	12-6-18-6-detail-2.jpg (67.2 KB, 172 views)

__________________
As the Master departed the workshop,
he could have sworn he heard some
one saying rather loudly...
"I thought he would never leave"
San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc.

Ralph

Behr!

Thank you very much for taking the time to post all of this. This looks like a very successful project, and I like what you have done very much. I don't think I have seen another boxwood or other species for that matter that has captured the essence of multiple trunk live oak like yours has done. Is it possible that some new ground is being broken with this one?

__________________
Emerging from winter slumber
Bonsai trees burst buds anew
Spring is upon us!


-Paul S.

sauce

Mr Behr, I'm not sure where to begin but let's start with this How true! The hours of wrapping and wiring you have put into the tree(s) is evident by the naturalistic 'grand oak' style that you have so successfully achieved. To see what it was and what it has become really gets my juices flowing, if you know what I mean. As I have said before your posts are always read by me and IMO this one is fantastic and quite a learning experience as well! I have not yet reached the stage of experience necessary to attempt this type of transformation and artistry but it is great to have the experience of others like yourself to fall back on as my training progresses. I also agree something should be done so that this thread does not disappear into the archives but remains front and center since there are hopefully, many more contributions coming to what has become a very good thread, Thank you Al for starting this. And thank you Grampz for posting this valuable information! Also, Ditto what Ralph said. BTW For future reference my name is Mr. Don