Elaeagnus Umbellata 1 and 2

[HorseloverFat]

I am beginning a fews threads on trees that I would enjoy documenting the process of. This is mostly just for my own benefit, but I DO like to share.

I reaaaally enjoy silverberries (which I found out JUST this year).. mmmm thorns and flowers pique my interest.

This is the first Elaeagnus that I collected....March 2020

It’s in it’s recovery year.





This second Autumn olive is a beefy, morose looking dual-trunk, dug out of roughly 5-6 inches of over growth.

Collected April 2020.
Currently also “taking a year off”. It survived in almost complete shade (Prior to .. so the buds are just breaking now.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Nice projects

 

[HorseloverFat]

Nice projects

Thank you!

I’m rather excited about the progress of these two.

 

[AlainK]

This second Autumn olive

I would only keep the main trunk, or chop the second one (too straight in comparison IMO) very low.

 

[HorseloverFat]

or chop the second one (too straight in comparison IMO) very low.

I agree. The second trunk will be GREATLY shortened it’s next time “under the knife”

 

[AlainK]

The second trunk will be GREATLY shortened it’s next time “under the knife”

Are you going to do it soon, or will you wait a few months/next season ?

I don't know anything about Eleagnus but I like what you have there, and if it were mine, I would probably take the safer way :



Or if I was sure it would backbud :



Then, I would wait for next spring to see if the two trunks are enough in good form.

Very interesting tree, keep us updated.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

@HorseloverFat
Autumn Olive is about to bloom in zone 6a, Michigan. Where you are at, in Wisconsin, they should be within a couple weeks of here.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Back bud it SHALL, @AlainK . The first specimen that I collected back budded SO prolifically that I was forced to “pluck” a great deal in order to preserve the appearance of the trunk.

I still am, however, leaning towards a version of the “safer” plan you have outlined. As the tree was dug from MUCH overgrowth.

The initial plan was to wait until spring.

 

[HorseloverFat]

@HorseloverFat
Autumn Olive is about to bloom in zone 6a, Michigan. Where you are at, in Wisconsin, they should be within a couple weeks of here.

View attachment 304657

View attachment 304658

Yes!!! Getting quite antsy here.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I reaaaally enjoy silverberries (which I found out JUST this year).. mmmm thorns and flowers pique my interest.

Does your silverberry have thorns? Did you mean to say "fruit and flowers"?

 

[HorseloverFat]

Does your silverberry have thorns? Did you mean to say "fruit and flowers"?

My silverberry DOES have thorns... maybe I messed up the identification...

But yes fruits too! But I do like thorns.

 

[HorseloverFat]

(((Elaeagnus Umbellata 1)))

Sacrificing some current beauty... seeing the tree WITHIN the tree.

(yes holding a branch down with scissors... have not placed any wire on it, yet.)

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

That's how it is done.

 

[HorseloverFat]

That's how it is done.

It was an amazing moment when my eyes “locked” that tree into place... like instant respect and understanding the trees individual process... there were other “trees” WITHIN the mass.. but THIS umbellata liked/responded to THIS design the MOST...

and I agreed.

 

[HorseloverFat]

((Elaeagnus Umbellata 2)))

Well.. it was time..

Now that I moreso understand the growth habits/patterns of this species, I felt comfortable performing an “ambitious prune”

Upon examination, and peeling some bark away I noticed the blatant awkwardness of the existing branches on the larger trunk (awkwardness pictured below..). I then decided to take it back to where I would like to “start”. Negating these strange “upward hugging” branches in the design.

 

[HorseloverFat]

(I’ve cleaned out some weeds since.. i just like them for pict’chahs.)

 

[HorseloverFat]

(((UPDATE))) Umbelatta 2

So.. the whole “worst-case scenario” IS the scenario.. both trunks above the main “flare” are... not... vital.. sooo my options become fewer, and of a lower quality.

I’m fairly sure i will eliminate the rightmost trunk (1st picture)

Buuuut I cooould wire that second trunk’s leader AROUND that dead stump to retain the “dual-trunk dynamic“ which drew Me to this specimen in the first place.

Hmmm..

 

[HorseloverFat]

@Leo in N E Illinois , do you think it wise of me to perform a basic, branch-setting wire operation on Umbellata 1 right now?... or do you recommend waiting until after leaf drop?.. OR spring? (Assuming that I’m the type that DOES want to wire Decs)



Thank you, in advance, friend.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Yes wire now. Key is getting the angle the branch leaves the trunk correct, and follow that pattern as a theme through the tree.

Get wiggles into the branches, especially the first few inches.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Umbellata 1

Did some general pruning in preparation for wire-setting, while still keeping some finer options open, and “herding” buds inward.

Key is getting the angle the branch leaves the trunk correct, and follow that pattern as a theme through the tree.

I believe the existing angle on that left branch (which I love so) IS the angle I want representing this specimen.

I shall wire once the paste dries.. if it doesn’t rain.