Juniper practice/projects

[tree4me]

Purchased 6 Junipers. It's been awhile since I killed my first but wanted to have another go. This coming year will concentrate on getting healthier. Is there any work that needs/can be done now?

 

[tree4me]

Next 3

I feel they all have good movement. I'll need to feed heavily and push back the growth. I plan on buying some shimps and trying grafting on at least one. Any and all advise will be helpful. thanx

 

[Dav4]

Health is everything in bonsai, so I wouldn't do anything to any individual trees that are obviously weak. For the ones that are healthy enough, I'd focus on cleaning them up. Remove the branches that are definitely not going to be used in any possible design. Lightly pruning back the canopy and even some some basic wiring now would be fine, as well.

 

[Martin Sweeney]

Health is everything in bonsai, so I wouldn't do anything to any individual trees that are obviously weak. For the ones that are healthy enough, I'd focus on cleaning them up. Remove the branches that are definitely not going to be used in any possible design. Lightly pruning back the canopy and even some some basic wiring now would be fine, as well.

Yeah, what he said, plus you can remove anything that is dead. Looks like there isn't much, but look them over for dead.

If there is a lot of soil above the roots, you could remove some of that as well.

I might give them a little bone meal, if you can keep dogs away from them and are keeping them outside with the roots protected in some sort of mulch. Bone meal can promote root growth even over the winter if we have a normal winter, which currently does not look likely.

Regards,
Martin

 

[tree4me]

Yeah, what he said, plus you can remove anything that is dead. Looks like there isn't much, but look them over for dead.

If there is a lot of soil above the roots, you could remove some of that as well.

I might give them a little bone meal, if you can keep dogs away from them and are keeping them outside with the roots protected in some sort of mulch. Bone meal can promote root growth even over the winter if we have a normal winter, which currently does not look likely.

Regards,
Martin

I was wondering about the roots. They seem to be slightly pot bound and one of the containers is split vertically on the side. Would moving to a larger container be an option?

 

[jedge76]

There does seem to be some nice movement to these trees, tree4me. Are these Sabina do you know? I know firsthand that a Sabina's foliage can be chased back pretty easily, a little at a time. Though that is true for most junipers. Good luck and keep us posted!

--Joe

 

[Martin Sweeney]

I was wondering about the roots. They seem to be slightly pot bound and one of the containers is split vertically on the side. Would moving to a larger container be an option?

Are you planning on root pruning and potting them up in Spring, or root pruning and potting them down in Spring or not root pruning or repotting at all? If you are planning on root pruning, then I would just find a direct replacement nursery pot and just moving it over.

Regards,
Martin

 

[tree4me]

Plans were to remove about 30% off the bottom and repot in a wider/shallower pot this spring

 

[tree4me]

UPDATE...
Here is 1 of the junipers 20 months after purchase. I didn't do much except reduce root ball, was in a 3 gal nursery pot, and wired. Have since removed wire and fed. The 1st pic is from original post and then today. Opinions or suggestions welcome.

 

[MACH5]

Well you have a very nice healthy bush... now make it into a tree.

 

[GrimLore]

Opinions or suggestions welcome

Nice job on keeping it alive and healthy for certain. You must feel pretty good being successful the second time around Although Junipers are mentioned frequently as great beginner plants most find out different. They can be pretty difficult potted.

Grimmy

 

[tree4me]

Thanks, though I am stuck on what to do with the crossing branches, see photos. Each branch supplies part of the foliage I think I would use.

 

[tree4me]

I started trimming and wiring and saw a different direction for this juniper. I think there is a dead vein on the bottom side of the trunk I can shari as well. Opinions?

 

[Vance Wood]

Thanks, though I am stuck on what to do with the crossing branches, see photos. Each branch supplies part of the foliage I think I would use.
View attachment 110482 View attachment 110483 View attachment 110485

There is really only two choices, eliminate or realign, like you didn't know that. It depends on your choices for design and the rest of the tree. Just remember a crossing branch means there are at least two offending elements. Sometimes the choice can be obvious, sometimes the choice can make or break a design. The photo does not make it clear how the crossing branch places itself in the over-all scheme of things. Looking at the photo again I would tend to think in terms of how graceful the two branches are and eliminate the one that is more like a gone wild heading to the moon sucker.

 

[Vance Wood]

I started trimming and wiring and saw a different direction for this juniper. I think there is a dead vein on the bottom side of the trunk I can shari as well. Opinions?
View attachment 110550

How does the crossing branch enter into this idea, or did you take care of the problem?

 

[tree4me]

How does the crossing branch enter into this idea, or did you take care of the problem?

This design would eliminate the crossing branches completely. It also improves the taper from the ground up. I guess my question is, if the crossing branches were left but unseen due to foliage is that an exceptable practice?
This was the original target

 

[Vance Wood]

Are you asking if keeping the crossing branch is acceptable as long as the silhouette is good? The fact that you have to ask the question should tell you the answer. You know its there and will forever haunt you. As the tree ages good points in design become better and bad points become worse in most cases. Eventually your maturity as an artist will not be happy with this.

 

[tree4me]

Are you asking if keeping the crossing branch is acceptable as long as the silhouette is good? The fact that you have to ask the question should tell you the answer. You know its there and will forever haunt you. As the tree ages good points in design become better and bad points become worse in most cases. Eventually your maturity as an artist will not be happy with this.

I get what your saying and agree.

 

[tree4me]

Update and virts on this tree. Wow it's been a year?! Wondering what others would do at this stage of design?

use all the rightside branches?
use 2/3 of the rightside branches?
use 1/3 of the rightside branches?