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Dawn Redwoods
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Author:  Rivulus123 [ 20 Jun 2020, 05:42 ]
Post subject:  Dawn Redwoods

As a second tree/s for a novice, how would you rate a Dawn Redwood forest clump.
How easy is it to care for this species and is there anything by way of husbandry I should look out for.
Regards
C

Author:  Sizzla [ 20 Jun 2020, 08:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Dawn Redwoods

They grow super fast, accidentally let a root escape into the ground and BOOM!

They need lots of water so a group could dry out and suffer very quickly if in a small pot and will need repotting often.

I think they suit large bonsai best because of their vigour and coarse foliage.

I tend to stay away from buying 'bonsai' and prefer to make my own. If you start seeds or cuttings off you would have a group planting infinitely better than anything you could buy commercially in a couple of years. Since most commercial bonsai have zero taper, nebari, fine branching and are mostly pencils in pots

Author:  richardb [ 20 Jun 2020, 08:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Dawn Redwoods

Sorry if I, offend but I think they just look like tree stumps with a bunch of foliage around them. I don't believe you can grow bonsai skills by growing these supermarket clumps. I do believe that as a clump of maybe 5 to 7 trees they work out very cheap. Because of this they are worth buying and then separating in spring , put them into good sized plant pots and grow on . This gives plenty of low cost material and on the individual trees you can apply your skills. They can be turned into nice little trees with taper if you grow , cut back to a new leader , grow on again , etc

Author:  Rivulus123 [ 21 Jun 2020, 07:55 ]
Post subject:  Re: Dawn Redwoods

No offence taken at all, I'm merely he to learn from the people who know.
I don't mind the look of the forest clump at all they may look like pencils with foliage at the moment but can they be styled nicely. The idea would be maybe to split one off and grow it on as a large upright bonsai on its own (I like the idea so long as it doesn't imbalance the others)
Regards
C
Thanks for your replies they are invaluable to a novice

Author:  Gary Jones [ 21 Jun 2020, 15:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Dawn Redwoods

If you like them you can just buy one on it's own for a few quid rather than mess up the group. They grow quickly. I bought some that were pencil thin a few years ago and after a few years planted them in my allotment a couple of years ago at about a foot tall. This year I chopped them from 8 foot to 3 foot after they shot up.

Author:  Rivulus123 [ 21 Jun 2020, 15:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Dawn Redwoods

Quick Growing, that appeals Gary. TBH I have not seen a single small pencil Dawn Redwood for sale (or at least I don't think I have) only in clumps/forests. I've seen some singular tree images on Google of what people have done with them and some of them look really good (in a large pot) I think I need another tree to stop myself wanting to have a snip at the Chinese Elm. I think the urge is great to shape and wire that one today then leave it to do its thing. Hopefully, I won't kill it.
The advice you guys dish out is invaluable to someone like me...Thank You
Regards C

Author:  daryl [ 21 Jun 2020, 16:22 ]
Post subject:  Re: Dawn Redwoods

You need to get down to a garden centre and buy some shrubby things that you can develop into convincing tree shape. Evergreen lonicera are particularly good, very forgiving and re-grow quickly after being trimmed. Also small leaved cotoneasters :smallthumb:

Author:  Sizzla [ 21 Jun 2020, 16:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Dawn Redwoods

Yep definitely get some shrubs to bonsai!

Lonicera nitidia
Escallonia
Buxus
Pyracantha
Cotoneaster
Berberis
Potentilla
Juniper
Taxus

Can all be picked up for around a tenner and will keep you busy for ages.

Author:  richardb [ 21 Jun 2020, 19:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: Dawn Redwoods

Where are you rivulus. I have a single one I want loose

Author:  daryl [ 21 Jun 2020, 20:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Dawn Redwoods

daryl wrote:
You need to get down to a garden centre and buy some shrubby things that you can develop into convincing tree shape. Evergreen lonicera are particularly good, very forgiving and re-grow quickly after being trimmed. Also small leaved cotoneasters :smallthumb:


For example...

Evergreen lonicera bought last year - not sure what the end plan for this is yet. (You can see that it is still in its plastic pot but I have cut the top of the pot away so you can see the trunk)

Image

Variegated cotoneaster bought 10 years ago

Image

When you go shopping look for plants with the beginnings of a decent trunk shape then you have something to work on :smallthumb:

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