Help me choose an angle for an older boxwood

[bdmatt]

Hello yall,
I have an older boxwood which I plan to repot either this year or more likely next year. I'm thinking of changing the angle to a lesser degree so that the tree is more formal. For reference, the pot is 12.5 inches long and the base about 4.5/5 inches.

Photo #3 is what the boxwood currently looks like. Photo #4 is the angle I want to change it at.

Photos # 1 and 2 are how I want the pads to fill out in a couple of years.

Any input is much appreciated. I do like the tree as is, so if anything I'll keep it at the same angle and just develop the pads.

 

[sorce]

What happens when you lean both the current and tilt forward a bit?

Sorce

 

[bdmatt]

@sorce Here's a pic with a slight lean. Honestly not bad

 

[River's Edge]

I would consider reducing and rounding the crown, compacting and reducing the pads providing some separation with the pads along with the existing planting angle #1.
Would be easier to provide advice if all four sides were photographed so one could judge the trunk position and overall pad formation. But would also consider greater variation in pad formation and size.

 

[Ply]

Nice tree. Based on these pictures I like #1 the best, followed closely by #2.

But like @River's Edge mentioned it's hard to fully judge a tree without seeing a 3d visual of it, or at least pictures from different sides.

 

[Clicio]

By the pictures, I would go with n#2

 

[bdmatt]

Here are photos of the sides, back, and close up of the apex.




The apex is somewhat tall to hide the large deadwood, so I wanted to grow out the rest of the tree to make it proportional. By reducing the apex, did you mean cutting down the height of the tree? And if so, would this cut suffice?



There's large negative space in the back right of the tree. The large bottom right pad has branches too thick to bend, so I'd have to use guy wires.

 

[JudyB]

just my opinion, I’d either cut the large top deadwood off completely and remake your apex branching, or expose it and make it a feature of the tree. The aNigel of the apex branch for me is too severe to look right. Very nice old boxwood!

 

[River's Edge]

I agree with Judy, the tree will look better with a more compact and rounded top representing an older specimen. I would focus on developing branching and pads in 360 degree. As the pads develop work on separate structure, negative space and overall composition.
It does appear from the pictures that reducing the deadwood portion on top would be a first step. Photos can be deceiving, but I see no need to keep the deadwood that high. After all the end result of the apex will likely hide the top in a mature design. Furthermore the taper and transition near the apex can be improved with removal of and carving of deadwood that high up in the design.

 

[bdmatt]

Right, that makes sense. I agree that a conical apex without the deadwood would make for an older looking tree. I don't have the tools to carve it out so I'll have to ask around.

 

[sorce]

View attachment 467688
@sorce Here's a pic with a slight lean. Honestly not bad

I think that forward lean could better hide the lack of taper above the first left branch. Especially after that pad above grows out a bit.

The right lean, while taking the left plane of the trunk out of perpendicular to the pot, seems to give a feeling of less movement.

I would try just a forward lean, seems a bit more dynamic.

Sorce

 

[sorce]

tools to carve it out so I'll have to ask around.

Be careful. Boxwoods tend to dead tools!

Sorce