Scribd
Upload
79 views4 pages

Privet Bonsai Carving 3 Trunks Into 1

The document describes the process of carving three straight, taperless trunks of a privet tree into a single trunk to create a bonsai. The tree was left to grow for 18 months before the author decided to hollow out the inside of each trunk using a die grinder to merge the three trunks into one, tapered trunk. After planting in a bonsai pot and a growing season, the tree had developed strong branch ramification from the main trunk allowing the author to style it into a bonsai.

Uploaded by

Dheanx Interista
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
79 views4 pages

Privet Bonsai Carving 3 Trunks Into 1

The document describes the process of carving three straight, taperless trunks of a privet tree into a single trunk to create a bonsai. The tree was left to grow for 18 months before the author decided to hollow out the inside of each trunk using a die grinder to merge the three trunks into one, tapered trunk. After planting in a bonsai pot and a growing season, the tree had developed strong branch ramification from the main trunk allowing the author to style it into a bonsai.

Uploaded by

Dheanx Interista
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Privet Bonsai: Carving 3 Trunks Into 1

Not all the material that is obtained


from collecting a large number of trees
is instantly suitable for bonsai. The
image above shows one Privet potted up
after the dig; the tree had 3 straight,
taperless trunks that merged at the base.
Although I had chopped back each of
the three trunks hard, the resulting
stumps had little that immediately
motivated me to work the tree into a
bonsai!

The large (5.5"/ 13cm trunk diameter)


stump was left to grow in a corner of
the garden, waiting for some
inspiration!

October 2013: 18 months later and


during that time, the Privet stump had
grown strongly. It had been pruned
back hard a few times, and as a result,
had plenty of options for me to
develop a branch structure.

But first, I would need to establish a


trunk, or trunks, on which to build the
branches. Options open to me included
planting the stump into the ground (for
quickest and most vigorous growth)
while I grew new tapering trunk-
sections, however, I didn't have the
interest in investing the 5-10 years
growing time that this would require.

Another option would have been to carve some taper into each of the three trunks, a popular
option for problem-material such as this.

......however, I decided to experiment and try something different with this tree.


The Privet bonsai seen from above, before and after carving.

Using my Makita die-grinder, I hollowed out the three trunks, removing the inside-curves of
each trunk.
October 2013: The newly carved and styled Privet
bonsai seen from the front. The next major step
for the tree was to plant it into its first bonsai pot.

April 2014: Detail of the new bonsai pot from Vic Harris. The design of the pot as well as the
glaze itself were chosen by Vic to compliment and enhance the bonsai.

October 2014: After a successful growing season with strong growth, I carried out a gently
styling. The ramification of the branches growing from the main trunk-line (on the left
handside) had increased and I decided that the branches, and all of the live growth, on the
right-hand side were surplus to requirements and a minimal branch-structure and foliage mass
would better-suit the bonsai.
May 2012-October 2014: Common Privet Bonsai/Ligustrum ovalifolium. Height: 13"/32cm

You might also like