Yamadori Oak Styling

[Michael_Marinelli]

Dug up this oak a few months ago and it’s bursting with beautiful new foliage. Do you guys think this is suitable material for a good bonsai? Maybe if I chop it low and start a new leader? I dug it up because I thought the nebari was beautiful and there was a little taper at the base.

 

[TimberLakers]

Really nice tree.

If you're thinking of a chop over the next year - you'll want this to be setup for rapid growth (thick trunk, thin leaders).

The dish you have this in is really small, which will limit ability to put on a lot of growth.

 

[Michael_Marinelli]

Really nice tree.

If you're thinking of a chop over the next year - you'll want this to be setup for rapid growth (thick trunk, thin leaders).

The dish you have this in is really small, which will limit ability to put on a lot of growth.

Yeah, I figured. Thank you.
I’m thinking of a chop at the red line and the green circled branch as the new leader:

Thoughts?

 

[TimberLakers]

Yeah, that would be about where I'd go, eventually.

I would get this into a bigger container for at least a year to root-up and gain vigor.

Top chopping introduces stress from the wound, but also root damage from the sawing movement and vibration.

Lot of potential. I'm a little surprised it survived in that dish - which speaks to good aftercare.

 

[TimberLakers]

Should also spin the pot every few weeks.

Hopefully that will encourage some budding and growth on the other side of the tree.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Nice. I would actually go lower than your red line. Each segment of trunk should be shorter than the previous segment. Your first 2 segments of trunk are shorter than the final segment where the red line is. Also, I would just remove all the branches, or all the growing tips and the leaves. You want to force back budding, your new leader will be one of the back buds. I don't see any of the existing branches as being part of the final design.

So cut lower, cut off most if not all branches, and you will be happier in the long run. At least that is what I would do.

Also, a wider, much wider pot to allow roots to develop. Doesn't need to be deeper, shallow is okay.

 

[TimberLakers]

Nice. I would actually go lower than your red line. Each segment of trunk should be shorter than the previous segment. Your first 2 segments of trunk are shorter than the final segment where the red line is. Also, I would just remove all the branches, or all the growing tips and the leaves. You want to force back budding, your new leader will be one of the back buds. I don't see any of the existing branches as being part of the final design.

So cut lower, cut off most if not all branches, and you will be happier in the long run. At least that is what I would do.

Also, a wider, much wider pot to allow roots to develop. Doesn't need to be deeper, shallow is okay.

^ great points

Do you know if the lower branch on the left side of the second picture is dead?

 

[Michael_Marinelli]

^ great points

Do you know if the lower branch on the left side of the second picture is dead?

It’s alive.
Side note, but do you guys know what kind of oak this is? Found growing in florida.

 

[TimberLakers]

It’s alive.
Side note, but do you guys know what kind of oak this is? Found growing in florida.

Maybe Quercus lyrata?

I have a hard enough time with the varieties out here. Someone local should know.

 

[Michael_Marinelli]

Maybe Quercus lyrata?

I have a hard enough time with the varieties out here. Someone local should know.

Yeah i don’t know. I haven’t seen anything similar online. Beautiful foliage though. Ive actually been gone from my house for about a month now at college and the last time I saw this oak was as a stump with no leaves. My dad just sent those pictures today and I was amazed by the beautiful leaves

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I don't know southern oaks, so I can't help with ID.

Horticulture and bonsai techniques should be pretty much the same as for southern live oak

 

[Katie0317]

It would really help if you had an acorn from the tree.

This should help though for starters.

most common oaks in florida - Google Search