Nate's large Shishigashira JM [#1]

[NateDyk47]

I discovered a landscaping nursery nearby and went there searching for an Arakawa JM. I ended up also impulse buying this huge Shishigashira. It's about 7' tall.

 

[19Mateo83]

That’s a chunky beast! The graft union is pretty clean too. Good find!

 

[NateDyk47]

I'm looking for some guidance on how to proceed with this thing. It's obviously pretty raw stock, but I think there's a lot of potential. It has a wide base, good taper, and there are some small low branches. It is unfortunately grafted, but I don't think the graft scar looks terrible. Over the next handful of years, I'd like to do at least the following:

1. Air layer off a bunch of branches
2. Repot, probably into a wooden grow box I'll build, and do significant root work. Perhaps the Ebihara root technique, but most likely not on the first repot.
3. Cut back to 1 trunk where it splits into 3. At first glance, I'm thinking of keeping the center trunk, but will depend on what front I select and if it's planted at a new angle.

I'm not sure what order to do all of these, or how many to do in season. I'm not in a rush. I haven't had it long enough to assess how well it drains, so I may prioritize air layering next year.

 

[NateDyk47]

I'd also welcome advice on styling and whether anyone thinks the grafted base absolutely needs to go. Worst case scenario, this becomes a landscape tree I use as a mother tree for a bunch of future air layers.

 

[NateDyk47]

That’s a chunky beast! The graft union is pretty clean too. Good find!

Thanks Mateo! I'm excited to work on this one.

 

[19Mateo83]

It is a very pretty tree as a whole, if I was in your shoes I would plant it as a landscape tree, get it growing good and then use it as a mother tree for layers. There’s tons of smaller trees in that one.

 

[rockm]

What you need to aim for is drastic reduction to about what the second photo shows--that would set up the tree to develop more tertiary branching from those main branches. You can air layer all you want to get there. Air layering will add years to the development time of the "final" base of the tree.

I would also see what's going on under the soil, as in looking further down to see if there are nice surface roots you can work with.

 

[NateDyk47]

What you need to aim for is drastic reduction to about what the second photo shows--that would set up the tree to develop more tertiary branching from those main branches. You can air layer all you want to get there. Air layering will add years to the development time of the "final" base of the tree.

I would also see what's going on under the soil, as in looking further down to see if there are nice surface roots you can work with.

Thanks for the input, Rock!

Drastic reduction is something I'm considering, but I'm having a hard time convincing myself to just discard what could be 10-20 sizable air layers. I guess I have about 6 months before I have to make that decision.

 

[Lorax7]

Did you get this tree from Van Atta’s?

Styling-wise, I think the first order of business is to reduce that junction where the 3 large branches meet the trunk so it’s just 2 (one of which will become the new trunk line). You can air layer off whichever branch you decide to remove.

 

[Rodrigo]

I agree with @Lorax7, I would take advantage of the three trunks and just reduce to two, not to one. I would personally remove the left trunk in your second picture as the other two have better angles. Not to mention you'd be left with two pretty gnarly wounds opposite of each other down low where you ideally want to show off the trunk before branching starts.

Overall good find though!

 

[NateDyk47]

Did you get this tree from Van Atta’s?

Styling-wise, I think the first order of business is to reduce that junction where the 3 large branches meet the trunk so it’s just 2 (one of which will become the new trunk line). You can air layer off whichever branch you decide to remove.

Nope, but I have visited VanAtta's a number of times! This was from Cottage Gardens in the south side of Lansing.

I hadn't considered keeping 2 of those 3 large branches; I had only thought of keeping one or committing to more of a broom style and cutting all 3 way back. I'll have to think about that more.

 

[NateDyk47]

Loving the fall colors on this tree.

 

[BrightsideB]

I love the fall color as well!