Privets seldom disappoint. This one has put on a lot of growth in just a couple of months, and I can tell by the strength of it that a slip-potting now shouldn’t cause any problem for it. But first, some design work.
Most bonsai design work is “grow and clip,” regardless of how you approach a tree. Wiring is certainly important for branch placement, but you’ll prune and pinch many more times than you’ll wire any tree. In this photo, you can see how much growth I’ve removed.
The final step before potting this tree is to bring in the profile. It’s often hard to make yourself cut a tree back as much as it needs to be, but over time you get better at making those decisions.
And that’s all it took! This privet is going to fill out in 2020, and should bloom for the first time in 2021. Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.
Nice…really nice tree character in the design. I’m really interested in how you next develop the apex….cutting to build an apex a big weakness of mine. I’m a bit lost.
Question: You mentioned that the branches will be cut back hard before Fall. Does this drive a new growth flush to close to winter dormancy? Is the Fall cutting during dormancy?
John, it’s not the branches that will be cut back hard but the leader. I just want it to get a little thicker. I also want it to rebud before winter arrives. Privet is semi-evergreen here in winter, so it should retain some of its foliage. Growth will end late next month.
Ahhhhhh….I tend to think in terms of my northern climate and -25 temperatures with many inches of snow for several months.
Great styling, Zach. pk
Thank you, Pierre.