Styling and Planting a Boxwood Forest, The Bonsai Zone, April 2022

I'm working on my Boxwood (Buxus) trees from the front garden to get them on the way to becoming bonsai.
To see previous videos on Boxwood bonsai, click on the playlist here....
• Boxwood Bonsai
#TheBonsaiZone

[@BlueJayBonsai]

Wow! The big boxwood is a star all on it’s own. 😍 The forest looks good! Interesting to see how they all grow up together over time. 👍

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Jay, yes it may go in it's own pot in the future!! It looked so small in the garden!

[@bigthunderfarms2731]

You do a great job explaing your thoughts. I've leaned a lot from you.

[@orlandocc-uv3901]

Nigel, you're a magician, I have a similar boxwood that looks like a green ball, you've giving me the inspiration to do something with that tree. BTW I'm very new to the bonsai world and your detailed explanations how and why prune a branch is golden knowledge. Thanks

[@sueb1317]

Amazed at the transformation from shrub to tree. Once you mentioned oak tree, I could not get the shape out of my mind. Definitely looking forward to the development of this stately grove. Thanks so much for a wonderful video!

[@MaybeBonsai]

The big one looks really nice after pruning, looking forward on seeing how the forest develops! Thanks Nigel

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Xin, me too, I can't wait to get it into a nice pot with some landscaping!!

[@erikzellers2925]

I'm kinda disappointed that you didn't plant them in that wood box that was on your work table in video about digging em up. Boxwoods in a wood box was so poetic.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I thought about it!!!

[@SamDoeckeAussiebonsaibloke]

Great start to a new forest 👌 👍

[@benhagan.bennytheredneck6841]

I love your class greenhouse

[@thenaturecreater8906]

Love to see a update on the boxwood forest nigel

[@peacecosmonaut176]

Awesome main tree! I started a boxwood from cutting today! Hope it survives =)

[@roostershamogallohen3618]

👏👌👍❤😍😍 beautiful mashallah

[@DetroitMicroSound]

Cranbrook House and Gardens! renew that passport! I'll be there, and bring a few family members. I promise! And I'll bring my Green Envy Poinsettia. 😁 Also, look into doing a rich workshop at OPC In Rochester Hills. My parents are both members, and they have very large attendance, on workshops such as you would provide. Also, they would make sure you are well paid for your deep knowledge. I would get my sister, and parents to participate. I'll be 50 soon, and they're in their 70's. We all love all this stuff, but I'm kinda nuts about it... 😁😉 The exact same snowfall, just melted here in Rochester Hills.

[@LindaGlisson-ns9cz]

Great video! New to hobby and this was helpful!!

[@iwonadm2118]

Komentarz dla zasięgów 💚💚💚

[@marysoldeeley2218]

OoooOOOOOooo A new forest! Can't wait to see how it develops! I can already see a family having a picnic under that big main tree.☺

[@thenaturecreater8906]

Looks Great! Love that big box wood! Its so beautiful it almost deserve a pot of its own!

[@danbehrens1621]

I totally agree.😆

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I think so too!

[@t3dwards13]

I've never thought of a boxwood. Back to the nursery I go! Lol

[@CherieChi]

I believe that in the near future it will be very promising, I would want to plant one now^^

[@dim2035]

Excellent choice on the styling! The larger tree especially looks great as an Oak. Great job!

[@gerardoforesthillsbonsai]

The Big Box wood looks great 👍

[@joekerr5152]

I’m excited to see how this grows!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Me too Joe, I hope it does well!!

[@debfaulbonsaigurl]

The big boxwood is a beaut Nigel, the whole forest looks great 👍 Thanks for sharing

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Deb!!

[@craft-o-matic2377]

You really worked your magic on that main Boxwood tree Nigel! Amazing! The planting already looks fantastic!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Lisa!!!

[@danbehrens1621]

Soon as you pulled that big Boxwood out of the bucket. I got lots of nostalgia for the old oak near my Grand Parents house. And then when you started pruning it I had to chuckle. I got a big bushy Boxwood a couple 2-3 years ago. And I had to prune the heck out of it. I posted the play by play of me working on it in my Family chat page. Everyone kept saying I killed it or ruined it.🤣 I love that tree. Haahaha. I love this big Boxwood to. I thought for sure you were going to give it its own pot. And just make a little Forest with the other trees and cuttings.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It may get it's own pot in the future!! Thanks Dan, I hope it does well this year!!

[@baldyeti]

Wow, hell of a job on the big one, brother! You looked pretty proud of it too, and you should be! I can imagine what this looks like once a nice bed of moss covers the substrate. So serene, I’m diggin it! I appreciate you talking us through the branch selection process.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Yeti, a nice pot with landscaping is hopefully in the future!!

[@anthonygawron7251]

I am from south Texas and I love using boxwood to imitate the live oaks we have here. Some of my favorite trees for sure. The boxwood has somewhat similar leaves and can be shaped into anything like you say, Nigel. The bark is a little bit too light of a color but everything else about them make for good imitation live oaks.

[@henrytwobonsai]

Pretty tree

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Henry!!!

[@waterlover]

Hello Nigel , Art here just in case my opinion matters . That branch bothered me too😝

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Art!!

[@severofalcon8429]

nice !

[@TheBonsaiZone]

So far it's doing well!

[@laurahiggins8594]

Add a miniature tire swing to your boxwood oak 😀

[@paulschaefer5241]

You talked about how boxwood is a good tree to learn on. This is a good choice because you can booth root prune and top prune quite heavily and the tree will be quite forgiving. About the only way I know to kill it is to forget to water it.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Paul, good advice!!

[@everythingbonsai3758]

It’s looks awesome Nigel!! I think I need to make my own boxwood Forrest 😂 the main tree came out great

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you, I hope you do, I'm enjoying your channel!!!

[@NotAnotherBonsaiChannel]

Oh no, another Nigel Saunders catchphrase... 'Another Cutting!'

[@jokesterk5302]

Ehmm,It was quite an operation,I think,but,it should work out fine,and fit nicely in the forest eventually. Quess one always has to try to find out,so far it looks fine. Thanks for sharing!

[@dk2614]

I'd love an update on these.

[@Werd2jaH]

Not a lot of snow around woohoo! Hopefully soon I’ll be able to participate with my new channel in “ficus Friday’s” with you and xin and jay, recording and editing is a whole endeavor! Even more respect and appreciation for ya Nigel!!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Sounds good, looking forward to it!!!

[@potreliefbonsaibatu5035]

👍👍

[@alexandruserban2138]

2:42 omggggg, I thought the same thing prior. That really resembles a Quercus Robur. 🙂💡🙏

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Awesome Alexandru!

[@MarcBlackforestPlants]

Amazing Boxwoods Nigel! I hope you won't get those japanese caterpillars wich will kill the tree in a very short period. I had 4 Boxwoods wich got all eaten up by them, no chance for the trees... So if you see some irregularities in the trees you need to check for those caterpillars.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I'll keep my eyes open for them!!! Thanks!

[@otterwench]

comfrey has a constituent that has been proven to promote cell growth in mammals. I wonder if adding a comfrey salve to the wounds of trees like boxwood would aid in the healing? maybe even easier/ better for the tree would be a tea made of comfrey. roots are safe for human ingestion, leaves are not, but the leaves can be used for topical application. might be an interesting experiment.

[@walterknittweis5976]

Hi Nigel Been watching for a long time. Feel compelled to ask about your ideas with the wiring of trees. Seems like you don't ever use wire. Could you explain Why not Thanks...Walt

[@PlantObsessed]

The big back branch would be a good swing branch for a oak tree.

[@billyp.1065]

I've watched quite a few of your videos now as I've got a blue spruce growing from seed. I've been curious as to what you are using for your soil for these!

[@GreenhornBonsai]

Search Nigel's channel for this video: Mixing Up My Bonsai Soil, The Bonsai Zone, Nov 2021

[@stuartrose7628]

We have a fungus called box blight here in the UK man try and keep the frost off your fresh cuts

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Stuart!!

[@barbkrienke8400]

Hi Nigel! I just found out that I’m going to be attending the Brazilian rainforest tree workshop. I’m really looking forward to meeting you and working with the tree! I’ll be coming in from Michigan, and would love to see the community orchard in person before the workshop. Can you let me know where it is? Thanks so much!!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hello Barb, awesome, I'm looking forward to meeting you! The orchard is a 1 1/2 hour drive from the workshop, I'd be happy to show you the orchard and my trees if you are in town earlier that day. Here is my email.... [e-mail]

[@theonel8910]

How do you know when a tree is strange? When you even for a moment think you can plant it upsidedown.

[@jenskarlsson4744]

10 minutes bosai !!

[@mmjnice97]

Nigel, quick question if you happen to read this. How many tree's don't survive that you severely root prune and almost completely defoliat? I've only been into bonsai for a few years now and just recently got to the point of doing all my own re-potting and styling.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I would say I loose about 1 in 15 of the initial nursery pot to bonsai root work. Collected trees are usually a bit harder!

[@ThatAmnesiaGuy]

Should I not root prune young trees? It seems I killed another one, as it is the only tree not budding right now. I have another young tree of the same species that I gave to my dad. When he repotted it, he did no root trimming. I trimmed mine when I repotted it. The last time I root pruned, I trimmed the fine roots and left the big ones, and quickly learned that is a big no no. This time, I trimmed just the big ones, and left the fine roots, but again, the tree hasnt bud yet, while the unpruned one has. So should I not be root pruning young trees? Or did I just prune it wrong, again?

[@aaronleslie1581]

Well in comparison to the boxwood I did not too long ago, you took more off yours!! I’m looking to repot mine soon but I’m not sure if I should wait until the buds pop or do it now as there swelling?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Generally it's best to repot when the buds are swelling on most trees. If you repot, try and keep it frost free until summer!

[@aaronleslie1581]

@@TheBonsaiZone thanks Nigel!

[@aaronleslie1581]

So I did the repot, I think I did alright but it was definitely the most roots I’ve ever taken off lol!! Little scary but I just applied what I’ve learned from you so here’s hoping!! 🤞

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌👌👌🍎

[@kuya5000]

Foaf!

[@QuadDerrick]

how do you choose to either leave a stub on a branch for dieback, or make the cut all flush ? it depends on tree type ? anything else ?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

That's a good question Derrick! I think if the tree is prone to dieback, leaving a stub is a good idea. If the tree is vigorous and a flush cut is important, it's best to make a flush cut right away and begin the healing. Some trees are also prone to dieback below the cut point if it is on a trunk or branch, Thuja's and Junipers can get a portion of the trunk die back like a ribbon, down to the roots. leaving a stub helps prevent this effect.

[@QuadDerrick]

@@TheBonsaiZone If the tree is prone to dieback, experiment and test abit. Alright then. Thanks alot =)

[@tinjoesstation]

How long did you grow these in the garden?

[@beckybledsoe7339]

Nice the soil looks white. Why?

[@rachelaleece]

I tried bonsai a few years back and immediately killed my tree. I’m hoping to take another stab at it soon and maybe I’ll have more luck

[@jaguardelcielo]

Foist!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

WWG1WGAFOIST!

[@Clayonmind]

update with your norfolk island pls

[@l3afl1p]

When is the best time to prune a Boxwood?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

You can prune them in spring before the new shoots develop and then later on in the year after the new growth has hardened off.

[@Liisa3139]

What is the whistling bird at around 33:30?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I'm not sure, I haven't heard that one before!

[@Liisa3139]

@@TheBonsaiZone Your guest artists are such an interesting surprise. ;)

[@jamesancilleri3694]

Buxus sempervirens?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I'm not sure, I think just the regular Buxus harlandii or Buxus microphylla?

[@jamesancilleri3694]

@@TheBonsaiZone thankyou Nigel

[@tonyozimek2116]

Any updates?

[@80PercentScottish]

Nigel do you have an Instagram or anything? I'd love to tag you in a photo of my fiddle leaf fig "bonsai", that lives in my old dog's foodbowl.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Here is my email.... [e-mail] Thanks!

[@andersnrregren9087]

Ratchet pruners from Tom are just wasted on you at this point maybe use em so you dont break your normal pruners or just give them to your wife i bet she could and would use em like you should have

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, that would have been a god place to use them!! I forget I have them sometimes!!

[@kingmartin6844]

you left your camera outside nigel

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Lol, I did run back and get it, it's how I get my exercise!

[@JackC1961]

Be aware of the Box Tree Moth it will decimate the tree very quickly.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Jack!!