Turn a box hedge into a bonsai tree - Simple guide

In this video, I demontrate the process of pruning an old box plant (buxus) and getting it on its way to becoming a bonsai tree.

[@peterzukof7942]

Miss you Tony. Still love watching your content.

[@markweaver3497]

Beautiful, just great Tony.

[@BlueJayBonsai]

Great work Tony! I think you won the box-ing match! 😂🤣

[@TonysBonsai]

🤣🤣8th round knock out!

[@conspiraterry7393]

Tony you were the best, miss you

[@maryweber4176]

miss you Tony

[@aronwalsh9680]

Wow really cut that one down Tony, I like your style 👍👍👍

[@TonysBonsai]

Thanks Aron. This was one of those projects which demanded strong action. I hope it turns into something good in the future!

[@oachkatzlsmum]

For ever in our hearts ❤️ Great Bonsai master Tony 🙏 RIP

[@mick681]

Great video. You explain very well and rationalised why you have removed each branch and not just removed them willy nilly. It will be interesting to see how this tree responds. Perhaps a follow up video?

[@TonysBonsai]

Hi Mick. Thanks for the positive comments. I will definitely be doing a follow-up video in a couple of months, showing how this tree is getting on after quite a drastic prune, then the next work will be next spring when I get it onto a pot which I can move without a crane!

[@margaretsims4344]

I have one box in a bonsai pot but it has never really inspired me. I just think of them as hedging plants 🪴 It will be interesting to see how yours comes along and perhaps I will get some inspiration for mine. Have a great weekend.

[@TonysBonsai]

Thanks Margaret. I have another similar to this but a bit more gnarly and old looking. I suppose there is so much choice in bonsai, were not all going to be interested in the same plants, but I think when mine starts to improve you will be inspired!

[@nerinat8371]

You are dearly missed ❤

[@bobbd6543]

Wow having the vision and the serious cutting to make it happen. Hell of a video 👏👏👏

[@TonysBonsai]

Cheers buddy. Love hacking away at stuff like this!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Nice Tony!

[@TonysBonsai]

Thanks Nigel!

[@ssal4699]

Love the camera quality and focus improvements video looks great

[@TonysBonsai]

Thank you. I really appreciate the positive feedback about my camera work!

[@ssal4699]

@@TonysBonsai welcome and looks very professional. Have two box hedges in garden that arnt doing much so I’m going to try bonsai both after watching this 👌🏽

[@TonysBonsai]

Excellent! Get stuck in and hopefully, they have some nice trunks!

[@clydewhy343]

🎉 yes a nice early one to watch with my coffee !

[@TonysBonsai]

Thanks Clyde. I hope it was a nice fresh coffee. Perfect on a Saturday morning with a crumpet!

[@Darkfire1300]

Thanks! I really appreciate how you always thoroughly explain your thought process as you cut away the extraneous material. I like to use wine corks to separate branches. They are soft and don't deteriorate plus give me a good excuse to indulge with a glass. So here's a toast to your work and the future of this tree!

[@TonysBonsai]

It's interesting I saw this comment today. This tree is doing very well, and needs a bit of pruning. That wedge seems to have worked a treat too. This is a very promising tree now I think.

[@Darkfire1300]

You never know when I'm going to get to a particular video. I realize they aren't always in "real time" but my comment would be the same. Glad to know it's doing well. I did a "Peter Chan" with a reciprocating saw, axe and hand sledge plus my grandson's help to divide a 30+ year old boxwood today. Talk about ironwood. Got 3 trees. We'll see how they survive the separation. Probably won't know the final carnage count until next year.

[@natrjack965]

Very very very nice work ..

[@TonysBonsai]

Cheers mate!

[@mattbrennan647]

Nice work Tony. They back bud nicely. This should respond to your work well. I’ve been working on mine for about 5 years now and I really like the species. I’m looking forward to watching this develop. Thanks, keep growing

[@TonysBonsai]

Hi Matt. Your tree sounds great and I hope mine responds nice and vigorously with lots of back budding!

[@scotthogbin613]

Great decisions made on the boxwood Tony, it surely did need a trim and i think you made some great cuts that will set it up for its future.

[@TonysBonsai]

Thank Scott. It was definitely in need of a prune, and the more experienced I get, the more confident I seem to be in really going for it when necessary.

[@guywatson-bognorregisbonsa7370]

It should grow nicely after your work Tony. Nice looking tree. I'm afraid that I've lost a lot of faith in Box since I lost about 12 due to box blight carried by the wind blowing towards the English Channel. Hope that yours continues to grow well. 👍👍

[@TonysBonsai]

Ah that's a shame Guy. I suppose you win some you lose some. At least you get nice weather down there!

[@carynludwig6667]

Sometimes I use wine corks to separate trunks that are too close together. Very forgiving, and do the job well.

[@TonysBonsai]

What a great idea thanks. The hard wood I've been wedging with is quite harsh on the bark, so I'll give that a try.

[@robryan9841]

It looks great 👍

[@TonysBonsai]

Thanks Rob!

[@michelreyder8954]

Hi Tony. Very interesting video again! Quiet a difference between the start and the end-result-for-now. Im not very fond of clum style trees and forests, but this turned out very beautifull. Like it a lot. The trunks have a lot of character. Keep up the good work!

[@TonysBonsai]

Hi Michael. I know what you mean about the clump style. I think the challenge with this will be making it look like a tree and not just a bush, but I do love a challenge!

[@maryweber4176]

. I was so distracted by the great camera work catching video of all those spiders in that plant!! You should have names for them. I have a hedge if about 40 boxwoods, right now covered i about 3 feet of snow.

[@TonysBonsai]

Thanks Mary. I was only looking at this tree yesterday and I think I'll be chopping it right back in the spring. A box hedge of 40 trees. I'd be in bonsai box heaven!

[@maryweber4176]

@@TonysBonsai I'm certain that you are in bonsai boxwood heaven.

[@kerryclark6968]

an advantage of living in Oz, is that here in mid winter our daytime temperatures have been between 18 or 21 degrees. my main problem is getting the european deciduous trees to get good colour and actually lose their leaves. we put up with the unfriendly wildlife, like you put up with snow and ice.

[@TonysBonsai]

Hi Kerry. I really want to take a long trip over to Australia and New Zealand. I love landscape photography, so there are many places I want to visit around your coastline. How do you get the European trees to go dormant? I would imagine if they don't, they could easily go out of sync with the seasons?

[@kerryclark6968]

@@TonysBonsai yes, i just stick to the local deciduous trees and the conifers that don't mind not getting snowed on. i don't get a lot of colour which is a shame.

[@ryanridley554]

Australia is fairly diverse. It is freezing in Canberra and autumn colours are fantastic 👌

[@angry9901]

It is the Red Back spiders we have to look out for, nasty bite they have. 🇦🇺

[@TonysBonsai]

You have more than your fair share of poisonous plants, insects and animals over there. The worst we get is a wasp.

[@potreliefbonsaibatu5035]

Just cutting 👍👍👉process to future💚

[@TonysBonsai]

Indeed. And thank you!

[@thenaturecreater8906]

Love the buxus! I think i got fire in my own collection. One really old one😀 Nice video Tony. Thanks mate. Where did you buy this hybrid cutters?

[@TonysBonsai]

Morning mate! Yeah they are cracking trees for bonsai. I'm developing three I think so I'll need to get a couple more to match you! I bought them off Amazon. www.amazon.co.uk/Round-Edge-Cutter-Stainless-Multifunction/dp/B075L21JC7/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2WTOKR7WAVBAX&keywords=hybrid+bonsai+cutters&qid=1656144761&sprefix=hybrid+bonsai+cutters%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-6

[@Greeny22]

Banging video

[@TonysBonsai]

Cheers mate

[@joegarland4885]

Hi Tony like you I love box and privet they make great bonsai I have a few which are doing well some are in flower at the moment. The one your working on will make a great tree over time, glad you have reduced some of the very thick trunks and branches they will do nothing to the final style you have in mind. Who’s garden are you working in? It looks large mate, thanks for the video. Take care.

[@TonysBonsai]

Hi Joe. I bet your trees look great in flower! I'm pleased with the initial prune that I did here. I just have to leave it now and hopefully it develops into something nice! I'm working in my parents garden. The funny thing is that it's right in the middle of the busiest part of Preston too. They were really lucky to get this property, and I've told my brother and sister I'm having it! 🤣🤣