Easter Yamadori (WARNING: Lots of Pictures)

[JTred]

Yesterday My friend and I went out to gather a tree I've had my eye on since summer. It was in a clump of similar trees on top of an old dumping spot for mining leftovers. This tree must have been the youngest, because it was the smallest and had an interesting shape from struggling for light. I'm not quite sure of the ID, but I'll try to get it once it leafs out. If it survives the summer, it will get chopped to a few inches of the desired branches.


Taking off the top






Most likely front

Back side, also a possible front

Sides



This is my first yamadori, so any suggestions, advice or possible IDs are appreciated.

[Marsman]

Very intriguing looking tree. I can see how it attracted you.

Are you going to put it in the ground or re-pot it?

[Victrinia Ridgeway]

It might be better to run out and get something it fits into better... you should leave it alone for the next 1-2 years depending on how it does. Prune it back if it pops back a lot of buds along the branches... but otherwise leaving it alone is important.

Which is why I suggest getting it better settled into a container, since it has to stay there for a while. As it isn't pushing leaves yet, it will likely not know that it got moved again. Also don't put it out in bright sun... collection is stressful for most trees, though deciduous tend to bounce back faster.

No clue about ID until it leafs out... I hope it's something that does well as bonsai... not all tree species can tolerate it, or reduce leaves under bonsai practices.

Kindest regards,

Victrinia

[JTred]

It might be better to run out and get something it fits into better... you should leave it alone for the next 1-2 years depending on how it does. Prune it back if it pops back a lot of buds along the branches... but otherwise leaving it alone is important.

Which is why I suggest getting it better settled into a container, since it has to stay there for a while. As it isn't pushing leaves yet, it will likely not know that it got moved again. Also don't put it out in bright sun... collection is stressful for most trees, though deciduous tend to bounce back faster.

No clue about ID until it leafs out... I hope it's something that does well as bonsai... not all tree species can tolerate it, or reduce leaves under bonsai practices.

Kindest regards,

Victrinia

There's actually a funny story about the pot. After I saw how wide the roots were I planned on putting it back into the ground. I sprayed the roots with the hose so they wouldn't dry out while I dug the hole, and when I went to pick it up to put it into the hole about half of the root mass simply dropped off. Apparently the dirt was holding on to a large unattached portion of roots and the weight of the water loosened it. After that fell off it actually fit into the pot. A bigger one would be better, but I won't have the time to repot until summer vacation.

[JTred]

Just thought I'd update now that it has started to leaf out. So far I'm impressed at how well this tree has recovered, but the real test will probably be this winter. The leaves are a whitish green, and slightly fragrant. I'm still not sure of the ID, and I was hoping someone could help me out.









EDIT: after some research on the PA DCNR site some possible candidates are quaking aspen, bigtooth aspen, and american linden.

[moulman]

I have a question for you - If you don't know what it is, and therefore don't know its needs - why did you collect it?

[Tachigi]

It would have been preferable to know what type of tree it was prior to collecting for things like leaf size....but as far as needs go...not 100% necessary. The area that it was collected from provide those answers, shade, light, ground moisture etc. ....

You need to get that tree in better soil...it will croak rather quickly in what its in. The branching is out of proportion so you will need to select you leader and get rid of the rest.

Congrats on your first venture into collecting

[TomM]

JT - your last 2 photos show a distinct grafting 'V' scar, making me think it might be a fruit tree - but I can't be sure.