Quercus robur rescued from a quarry waste tip before bulldozing and landscaping work commenced.
2 years after collection it was transferred from its disintegrating wooden box to this pot in spring 2000.
Its placement is too close to centre for my likes but I didn't want to lose any more root than absolutely
necessary at this stage.

 

Photo taken two weeks after repotting (Spring 2000), as buds just start to burst.
Trunk girth at two inches above the roots is 15", Width 36", Height above pot 22"		 Some of the planned refinements have been digitally manipulated in the next image on the right.
Branch removal scar caused a bump in the lower right trunk.
Overly thick right hand branch thinned by carving away the lower portion.
Apex jin reduced to lower it.
Forward part of lower left branch wired down.
Periphery tidied to neaten the silhoutte as a broad dome, the characteristic shape of many old, high-altitude oaks.

 

Digital projection for the development of my oak over next five years
Another year or two of refinement using heavy wiring and developing the ramification. Projection of image for 2005 (Thanks to Craig Coussins)
December 2000

My Oak on 16th August 2001

My oak in August 2001. Some design objectives have been achieved. Apex wired and raised, jins reduced and roots refined. Greater ramification and leaf reduction are now the priorities.

My Oak on 4th April 2002

April 2002. Washed all soil off roots, discovered that last repot was not as thorough as I'd thought. Final traces of "mountain soil" removed. Repotted off centre. Some minor wiring of twiggy growth.

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