Hello - I found this loblolly pine in the back area of a local nursery (Houston). There were several trees in the neglected area and when I asked how much, the owner told me 1$ per gallon, so I picked this one up for $15. It’s about 8 feet tall and 3+inches at the base.
I’ve been thinking about trying some techniques that I have not executed before - specifically a wedge cut to bend a thicker trunk. Wanted to get everyone’s thoughts and suggestions.
I am thinking to chop the top off at the red line - there is a whirl of 4, so I would cut the main leader and one other branch to leave 2…one of which would become the future apex.
I am thinking to try two wedge cuts at the blue marks. The first would bend the trunk toward the viewer in the picture. The second about 12 inches higher would bend the trunk toward the left and a little away from the viewer. Wedge cut placement would allow the natural bends to add additional slight movement.
I am thinking the front could potentially be the side closest to the fence - viewed from the 3rd picture. I also included a picture of the base 4th picture.
I am looking to let the tree build strength and not looking to perform work until next spring (26) or fall (26) depending on how it does.
Appreciate any thoughts comments or suggestions.
BTW - I may go back and get a few more - can’t beat the price - lol!
I can’t see the tree in all its glory but looking at the pictures I would chop at the red line and let the leader be the part with the red arrow.
Above this mark the tree seems pretty straight and boring.
We all have our own opinions and hey it is your tree, but below that the trunk had nice natural movement.
As far as the timing of the work I would refer to the Mirai calendar/ library as to when to make those major cuts.
Just my thoughts, it’s really going to depend on how much work you want to put into it, and how tall you want the end tree to be.
I don’t know the timing on the wedge cuts but I would think they are a year apart. 2 years no work once in pumice, so to do all that you are 4-5 years out before it could go in a bonsai pot with ALP.
CMP - thanks for your comments and suggestions! Yes - definitely a long term process to get this tree to a bonsai container. I’ll take a look at cutting the top where you suggest. Is a little lower than I was initially thinking but with the straight section above may make sense.
Will definitely post progress in the coming years.
Hey Stephen, a buddy and I have been doing a lot of experimenting with local loblolly. It seems like they follow very closely with the standard black pine techniques and schedule for work.
We have chopped dozens of trunks, cut back hard, the responses have been tons of back budding, and very vigorous growth. The trees we are working are planted in the ground, in grow bags and seem to be doing extremely well. The responses we’ve seen are very exciting and we’re looking forward to working these pines. We’ve also seen needle reduction of 3/4, which is exciting too!
Not sure I would do the wedge bends on your tree, the movement looks pretty good - my debate is would such a dramatic procedure improve the tree enough to warrant the years of recovery?
Good luck - grab some more to experiment with!
Kyle - thanks for the advice and additional information. Great point about the bends I talked about. I am also excited to work these loblolly pines. Since getting this one, I have gone back to get two others - a little smaller, but can’t beat the price $1 per gallon of pot it is in!
I have considered putting them in the ground in grow bags. Do you do anything else when putting them in the ground - like planting in a tile? What soil medium do you use inside the grow bag? Curious because I am also considering starting a small growing field. I am experimenting with different ideas to come up with a process.
Funny, I have a backyard grow operation. So since they already are nursery stock initially I would just slip them in a slightly larger grow bag and back fill the grow bag with pumice. My process for field growing in to pull the trees every 2 years and work the roots, branch structure this is when I’d put them on a board to flatten the roots. Loblolly acts a lot like black pine so they will be aggressive growers, and progress quickly results will show up fast. I’ve seen really fast results from pruning and decandling.
Rather than wedge cut try using gye wire to put curves in the upper and lower trunk. Make sharper bends than desired because they will smooth out as it grows. Before fall make very thin shari cuts following the curves so the deadwood will hold the shape. Loosen the gye wire next season to see if it hold the desired bends. Good luck! Nice find! Let us know your progress!
@Bonsai_bob - thanks for your ideas! Would not have thought to begin creating Shari. Or that it would help with the bending.
Question on the gye wire - I have used Galvanized Steel wire in n the past. Do you have any other recommendations? Seems like I tend to break it sometimes because I don’t tighten it properly and one side starts to wrap around the other. Probably need more practice to tighten the wire properly. With a heavy bend…am thinking that I will need a thicker wire than I have used in the past (16-17 ga).
It is necessary to pull on the wire as you twist it so it wraps rather than bending. I often make a loop with padding to protect the bark. Once the wire is tight, place a stiff bolt or nail between the two wires and rotate to twist and shorten the wire. Steel wire is strong if you do not bend it.
