My First Real Yamadori

[wireme]

Thanks for the update, looks like very good growth. Still thinking to change the potting angle?

 

[tmmason10]

Thanks for the update, looks like very good growth. Still thinking to change the potting angle?

To be quite honest I'm not sure which way I want to take it. I like Robs idea of turning it into a little bit of a cascade but I'm leaning towards a more upright tree. I'm open to suggestions, I really need to study it some more until I decide how to style it.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I really like this tree, a very good find Tom.

I would not rush to do any styling, you really want to make sure it is growing well. If you can stand it, it wouldn't hurt to wait until 2016 to do anything to the tree. Maybe a little foliage maintenance, prune of overly long shoots, but that is about all I would do in 2015. You might be able to style it in 2015, but if you wait, the tree will have even better roots, and energy, and will recover much faster from its first styling if you wait another year. At least that is my 2 cents. Right now I am telling myself roughly the same thing as I look at a Ponderosa in my back yard that was collected in 2013. I should not do a thing to my Ponderosa until I see lots of growth, and right now it looks like it might not be until 2016. So telling you to do the same waiting is helping me to resist the urge and follow my own advice

And I agree with those that said keep all the dead wood, at least until after the first styling. You can always take it off, it is difficult to add dead wood back on and have it look natural. Take time to get to know the tree, then styling will be easier.

 

[tmmason10]

I really like this tree, a very good find Tom.

I would not rush to do any styling, you really want to make sure it is growing well. If you can stand it, it wouldn't hurt to wait until 2016 to do anything to the tree. Maybe a little foliage maintenance, prune of overly long shoots, but that is about all I would do in 2015. You might be able to style it in 2015, but if you wait, the tree will have even better roots, and energy, and will recover much faster from its first styling if you wait another year. At least that is my 2 cents. Right now I am telling myself roughly the same thing as I look at a Ponderosa in my back yard that was collected in 2013. I should not do a thing to my Ponderosa until I see lots of growth, and right now it looks like it might not be until 2016. So telling you to do the same waiting is helping me to resist the urge and follow my own advice

And I agree with those that said keep all the dead wood, at least until after the first styling. You can always take it off, it is difficult to add dead wood back on and have it look natural. Take time to get to know the tree, then styling will be easier.

Thanks for the comment Leo, I'll definitely consider waiting another season for styling. It's a good thought and can only help the tree progress.

 

[tmmason10]

This tree is healthy and ready for styling this year. Still need to keep studying it though because I have decided the best course of action.