sweetgum
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Sweetgum
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sweetgum
Updates are in date order beginning with the first date Zach began documenting the progression.
07/07/2018
This Sweetgum had been field-grown for roughly five years when I lifted it. The field-growing process included multiple occasions when the tree was chopped to build movement and taper.
11/23/2018
(1 of 2)
By the fall, the tree had produced lots of shoots that I could select for branches. Fall is a good time to do initial styling on deciduous trees.
11/23/2018
(2 of 2)
Here’s the tree after its initial styling. I’ve got a long way to go, obviously, but this is how every bonsai gets its start.
05/21/2019
I think I like this view best for the front. Both trunks are the same thickness, so there’s no rule to follow in regard to having the smaller trunk subordinate to the larger trunk, meaning behind it. In situations like these, you find the best configuration of equal trunks.
05/19/2019
The tree has grown well this year, and it’s ready for a bonsai pot. But where’s the front?
07/06/2019
The tree was potted in this lovely Lary Howard oval in late May. Notice how I adjusted the planting angle; this adds drama and makes a huge difference in the appearance of the tree.
Following a short pause, the growth has resumed and is very healthy. I’ll make additional headway this year in the tree’s development. It’s still a few years away from taking on the maturity of a show-ready bonsai.
11/30/2019
(1 of 2)
The leaves are just about off the tree. The branches have done what they wanted to do since I removed the wire some weeks ago.
Maybe this is actually the front? I like this front, so we’ll see.
11/30/2019
(2 of 2)
This is a good time to wire deciduous trees. It’s very easy to see all of the branch structure, and you don’t have to work your way through a tangle of foliage.
I’ve left the branches long on purpose. Each has a terminal bud at its end, and I’ve found that removing them in winter often leads to dieback of the branch. Probably due to auxin withdrawal.
we love your input
I believe I was seeing someone saying that you take a sweet come out of the ground fairly late in the season. I’m in Nashville Tennessee and I have a fairly small one with a thick trunk that is growing right next to me concrete driveway. Is it too late to dig it up in May? I thought I might have even said that they thought you recommended even later than that. Was trying to find where I had read that but I thought I would just come out and ask you directly.
I’ve had better luck in May than late winter. I don’t recall ever recommending later in the season. Give it a shot now. Sweetgums aren’t easy, but you might get lucky.
Hey Zach, when do you significantly prune to reduce the length of a branch? They’re starting to leaf out currently, and I never remove terminal buds during the winter, but do you prune yours in spring or summer?
Once the tree is out in spring, it’s okay to prune back. Just be sure you have one or more nodes below the pruning spot so the branch will regrow. In cases where you prune a sizeable branch (> 1/8″), seal the end of the cut.
Awesome, thank you. I’ll give them another week or so for the inner leaves to fully leaf out.
Hey Zack, what are the dimensions of this tree and pot? Trunk to height and pot size? I have a similar tree that I’m pot shopping for now. Thank you.
Hi, Nagel. The base of this tree is 2.5″ at the soil, 18″ tall from the soil, and the pot shown is 10.5″ in length by about 7″ wide. I moved the tree to a bigger pot in 2020 (not shown), 12.5″ in length by 10″ wide.
Awesome, thank you sir. Your wisdom is much appreciated. I’ve learned a ton about collecting from you.
Hi Zach, I have a sweetgum that came up in a small pot about three years ago. It naturally has small leaves and has been doing it’s thing as a tiny tree. I have a great window inside that I would like to showcase it with excellent light. Right now it has small terminal buds that have not leaved. Ive read two different recommendations but I’m not sure which is correct. Should I cut these off to restrict the growth before spring, or just let them go into foliage?
Hi, Jeff. I don’t recommend removing terminal buds from Sweetgums. In my experience this often causes death of the entire branch. What I do to constrain growth is to pinch the growing tips continually through the season. If you want a branch to thicken and get longer, then let it grow out some before pinching. But the key to ramification and small leaves is to pinch continually during the season.
What is your method for collecting Sweetgum? Time of year, soil, bare root or not, pruning, etc? I seem to vaguely remember you mentioning somewhere that you collect Sweetgum in May. I tried this on about 8 trees and had a 0% success rate. ):
I collect in May. Bare root (I leave some native soil on the roots), defoliate, and seal the trunk chop and any other cuts > 1/8″. My success rate is about 80%.
Is it okay to fertilize after digging up? What about after a trunk chop?
I usually wait until shoots are pushing before fertilizing (deciduous trees). After a trunk chop, not a problem.