iant
Chumono
Winter fruit,
Ian
Ian
Last tree of the year, 2019 edition
- Thread starter Carol 83
- Start date
Warpig
Chumono
I like it. Any plans for it yet? Seems like it would lend itself to a windswept look pretty nicely.
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
I wouldn't do any repotting until I chopped it, right now. It's pretty bare on the lower trunk, but there's gotta be a bunch of dormant buds down there just waiting for the emergency signal to bud out. I'd chop it today, feed it, and give it the best sun exposure, and expect to be rewarded in spring with many buds from which to select a few well-placed that you could use as sacrifice branches to fatten up the lower trunk and be the lower end of the spiral staircase of a champion.
iant
Chumono
Just working on ramification! Always exciting with a crabapple yo get another branch fork!
Ian
Schmikah
Shohin
To be fair, I have zero experience with spruce. Do you have any advice on how drastic a chopping it should get?
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
There's not a clear enough view to do a virtual design, so take some more views so people can see where the branches are, and you'll get some advice. You're gonna get lots of advice here, and you'll find that everyone sees things a little different. If you learn that there's more than one way to skin a cat, that's a lesson well learned. The basic idea will be to: 1) chop the trunk on the back side of a branch that lends itself to being wired as a new leader so that the wound is hidden by the new leader; and 2) do it in conjunction with a front view that hopefully would include the best combination of views of; 3) the nebari; 4) movement in the trunk; and 5) location of the lower three branches of a spiral staircase of major branches.
The likelihood of obtaining all five goals in a really good candidate are slim to none, so you'll need to make do with what you have. My philosophy, not shared widely, is to make the best of what you have by doing a design that fits the tree rather than making the tree into a formal upright (or any other design you had in mind) because that's what you bought it for. If all you can do is to lay it down and make a raft out of half of it because that's what it does best, I say go for that. There are 15 standard designs, probably more if you're creative, so you'll be able to do something with it, even if it's wrong and you kill it. You'll learn more from doing it wrong and killing it than you will from not taking chances doing it.
The likelihood of obtaining all five goals in a really good candidate are slim to none, so you'll need to make do with what you have. My philosophy, not shared widely, is to make the best of what you have by doing a design that fits the tree rather than making the tree into a formal upright (or any other design you had in mind) because that's what you bought it for. If all you can do is to lay it down and make a raft out of half of it because that's what it does best, I say go for that. There are 15 standard designs, probably more if you're creative, so you'll be able to do something with it, even if it's wrong and you kill it. You'll learn more from doing it wrong and killing it than you will from not taking chances doing it.
Gsquared
Shohin
Mine was last summer when this white pine landed in my lap, and I collected this zelkova from a median. Both were June or July. Haven’t bought anything since. I’ve been very good this year...if you don’t count tools!
I did a rough styling on the JWP, largely with the goal of reducing branches around a whorl. I am pretty sure there will still be more branch elimination over time. I want to repot it this spring to get the angle better.
I did a rough styling on the JWP, largely with the goal of reducing branches around a whorl. I am pretty sure there will still be more branch elimination over time. I want to repot it this spring to get the angle better.
Schmikah
Shohin
I actually just meant from a health/horticulture perspective
. I heard spruce was a bit finicky about back budding so I was hoping you had a bit of experience on how far is too far.I plan on posting a 360 in a dedicated thread, asking for advice there. I do completely agree on letting the tree dictate the style, not shoehorning a tree into a design it's not meant for.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
I wouldn't be too itchy.
Sure wouldn't chop it yet.
You see how there is only new growth at the top?
Some bare twigends.
And the lower growth a little browny.
Any work might kill it.
Don't get me wrong, I'd be itching to get it home, but not much else. Yet.
It seems like it needs root attention, but that doesn't necessarily mean repotting. From killing grubs, root aphids, bad nematodes, or simply keeping a closer eye on water, more things can be done to give the increase in health this thing needs at this point.
After, what are it's redeeming characteristics?
I think it's cool as hell to have been in that pot so long, so it's got that going for it, but there's not much else to warrant your time.
I'd commit to it's future, but no actions yet.
After a season or 2 of getting familiar, maybe you can coax out some interest.
Sorce
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
Last tree and tree work of the year.
Thank you....thank you very much....
Thank you....thank you very much....
My last tree of the year. I got this for its fabulous trunk.
I think the nursery was hedging this as a rough broom style, but on close inspection "bush style" would be more accurate.
Olea oleaster sylvestris, before pruning and wiring, Dec 2019 by bluesky, on Flickr
I did some initial pruning and wiring to get it going in the right direction, but it needs plenty more work in spring. Not least repotting with some decent soil, also re-fronting.
New front:
Olea sylvestris. Dec 2019 by bluesky, on Flickr
New rear:
Olea sylvestris, Dec 2019 by bluesky, on Flickr
I think the nursery was hedging this as a rough broom style, but on close inspection "bush style" would be more accurate.
Olea oleaster sylvestris, before pruning and wiring, Dec 2019 by bluesky, on FlickrI did some initial pruning and wiring to get it going in the right direction, but it needs plenty more work in spring. Not least repotting with some decent soil, also re-fronting.
New front:
Olea sylvestris. Dec 2019 by bluesky, on FlickrNew rear:
Olea sylvestris, Dec 2019 by bluesky, on Flickr
atlarsenal
Omono
Well I was hoping not to post anything else to this thread but I just can’t stop myself 
Crepe myrtle and a Mayhaw, Crataegus opaca
Crepe myrtle and a Mayhaw, Crataegus opaca
Heitor Silva
Yamadori
BTW, couldn't resist the sales opportunities I had in Paraná : there is the LARGEST NURSERY IN BRAZIL there, called "Bonsai do Campo". Nice trees for nice prices.
Hohoho I thought it was last tree singular not plural!!
Nice selection. What's the deciduous one?
Heitor Silva
Yamadori
LOL I'll pretend i read "trees" instead. The deciduous one is an Ulmus parvifolia. Will take a pic for you:
I am looking foward to working on it by mid January. For know, I'm just fertilising its soil and keeping an eye out for pests, if any.
Heitor Silva
Yamadori
LOL^2! Sorry, wrong tree. The one without leaves is actually a Ficus carica tree. It has been defoliated prior to my visit. From my perspective, it can be a nice way of reducing its leaves size and stimulate backbudding.
namnhi
Masterpiece
Here is mine. Am especially interested in the knob.... That is where an air layer will be made this Spring. It is a JM lion head. I like clump!
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
Gee, I was feeling sorry for Heitor because he only had 8 trees, and then we find out he just bought EIGHT "last tree of the year"...
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