russian olive twin trunk raft

[JudyB]

I had to repot this tree today, even with the pot buried outside, it's pushing leaves. It's now in the greenhouse till frost is almost gone for the year. These are always my earliest trees, but never quite this early...
It still needs quite a bit of work, but I'm in no hurry, it's coming along. I found this old tree that had fallen over, this was a branch that had rooted, and the twin trunk grew up out of it. It's completely naturally formed, I didn't put that sweet little curve in the one trunk...

 

[bonsai barry]

Its a nice tree and it looks like you took a lot of care in wiring. If it were mine (I wish it was), I might think about a drastic chop to the taller trunk, so the curved (and more interesting) trunk become the focus of attention. You could also add a complimentary curve to the seconrd trunk as its apex develops.

 

[JudyB]

Good thought Barry, I hadn't thought of taking the taller one back, that is a good idea. I'll take a look!
Thanks.

 

[JudyB]

Update on both my Russian olives, in bloom. They have a very sweet scent...

Maybe after it's finished blooming I'll look at cutting back the left trunk a bit.

 

[JudyB]

cut it back!

So I got bold with this one, and started much lower. I miss the old tree, but I'm sure that this is the better way to go. It was my year to finally make myself do the drastic work that needs to be done to move towards better trees, instead of ok trees...

 

[misfit11]

I agree with your decision, Judy. Sometimes its hard to do the drastic chop, esp. when you've put a lot of time in to the tree just to start over. I've done it many times myself. You may want to slip pot it into a larger pot in order to speed things up a bit. It could take a while in that pot.

Cory

 

[Mbpauley]

So I got bold with this one, and started much lower. I miss the old tree, but I'm sure that this is the better way to go. It was my year to finally make myself do the drastic work that needs to be done to move towards better trees, instead of ok trees...

I definitely like what you've done here. The new shoot at the base that you wired, do you intend for that to become a third trunk or is it just a sacrifice? Either way, hopefully it will help to thicken up the roots on that side.

 

[Poink88]

So I got bold with this one, and started much lower. I miss the old tree, but I'm sure that this is the better way to go. It was my year to finally make myself do the drastic work that needs to be done to move towards better trees, instead of ok trees...

It is a big hurdle, congrats for having the courage. I believe you made the right decision.

 

[JudyB]

Mbp, not sure what I intend for that branch. It started out as a sacrifice idea, but then I thought, what the heck? While it's growing the base over there, might as well see how I like it as a triple!

I may put it in a bigger pot... these do grow relatively fast.

 

[Gabler]

Do you still have this tree?

 

[JudyB]

Do you still have this tree?

Sorry not for years! Was a fun tree, but the raft finally rotted.