AusBonsai

Hi,

I was wondering what your opinions are regarding using a grafted tree for bonsai?
I ask this because today I had my eyes on a Claret Ash before noticing that it was grafted (onto Fraxinus oxycarpa base according to the nursery guy, it was a nice clean graft too). The trunk was thick and had great movement before the graft which was about 20cm from soil height. Can this tree still be used?

The tree was about 2m tall, so I would probably air layer it down to size anyhow, It was at a good price.

Cheers.

If the graft as you say is neat and there is no reverse taper it should not be a problem. Air layering might be, as they graft onto stronger under stock, and some times disease resistant. You might not get the same growth. I tried it once with a maple not a good result.

Cheers Pup

I have a couple of Dissected Japanese maples on Grafted stock
They are neat grafts and not obviouls to the casual look.
The trees will never be Tropy winners, and are grown for the foliage and my enjoyment so no worries

Thanks guys,

I've decided against it. It just wouldn't be right if it weren't the whole tree. Nurseries seem to be grafting everything these days.

Thanks.

yeah theres a lot of grafting going on it can be our huge variation in climat from tassie to w.a to darwin they try for differnt results and allso our strict quarantine laws as theres hardley any seed grown white pines as there grafted to black bases to make them more hardy and because of the ban on importing pines