So I bought a Juniper....

[Redwood Ryan]

....and promptly butchered it.

Started with a bush:

And ended here:

This is my first time working with a Juniper, as I thought it'd be nice to venture outside of the box for a change. Let me have it!

(Also, my pictures attachment is different, haven't figured it out yet)

 

[Vance Wood]

I think it is unlikely the tree will survive the extreme reduction of foliage. Junipers can sometimes be sensitive about those kind of things. The species of Juniper is also questionable, the foliage is awful flaccid and featureless in general.

You don't learn if you don't do the work, do not wory and do not quit, be careful about the watering you might be able to save it just don't over water but don't let it dry out either.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Thanks Vance.

I had always wanted to get my hands on a Juniper just to see what they can handle. This species is a chinensis, by the way. I kinda figured it'd be too much of a reduction in foliage, but I wanted to see how far I could push it.

It was a sale tree regardless, so not a big loss.

 

[Adair M]

Junipers contain their energy in their foliage. The typical recommendation is to never remove more than about 25% to 1/3 of their foliage at a time.

And secondly, when styling junipers, deadwood is used as a feature. If a branch is deemed to be expendable, we try to use it by jinning it, rather than cutting it back to the trunk. It is the contrast of the green foliage and the white jin that creates the drama in the picture we see.

Maybe it's just the angle of the photo, but that branch on the left appears to be coming out of the inside of the curve. Branches usually look better when they come off the outside of the curve of the trunk.

And finally, as Vance said, we try to pick varieties that produce dense foliage, rather than loose foliage. The better to build pads with.

I hope it does well for you. If you're lucky you'll get lots of backbudding to work with.

Good luck!

 

[Adair M]

"Chinese Juniper" is a rather broad type. It's kind of like calling a car a Ford. There are lots of types of Fords.

 

[october]

Finally Ryan!!!! lol... After all these years, I am glad to see you finally branching out. On this tree, I would have left more, especially in the way of back branches. Leaving back branches is important. Not only do they fill in the back, but you can pull them up towwards the front if you need a side branch or if a side branch dies, you might be able to swing a back branch forward. All that a side, I am glad just to see you working on a juniper. You initial image is pretty good. Enjoy it and have fun. If it survives, great, if not, you can get another one and just use more caution next time.

Rob

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Finally Ryan!!!! lol... After all these years, I am glad to see you finally branching out. On this tree, I would have left more, especially in the way of back branches. Leaving back branches is important. Not only do they fill in the back, but you can pull them up towwards the front if you need a side branch or if a side branch dies, you might be able to swing a back branch forward. All that a side, I am glad just to see you working on a juniper. You initial image is pretty good. Enjoy it and have fun. If it survives, great, if not, you can get another one and just use more caution next time.

Rob

Lol Rob

Your junipers have always made me want to dive into the world of junipers, they're beautiful. I think it's time I move more toward native trees for a change.

I had always thought junipers were the 'Ficus' of the more native trees. I figured they were just about bulletproof and could handle this, obviously I'm wrong

I'm not a huge fan of the styling. I see where I was going, but didn't quite execute what I had in mind. I got a little jumpy when I just about sawed my finger off!

 

[eugen_onegin]

Unfortunately most of us have committed our Junipers to a slow and agonizing death. Learning Curve... It will probably seem fine for now, problems will arise after next winter and it tries to come out of dormancy and doesn't push anything out.

Junipers tend to react opposite to Pines where as Junipers take bare rooting much better and their foliage tampered much harder, and vice versa.

I think you may want to take some steps to try to prevent it form dying. Maybe cut back the roots just as hard as you pruned the top. As up top, as so below (or something like that)...

Either way, never give up trying to keep it alive.

 

[Vance Wood]

Unfortunately most of us have committed our Junipers to a slow and agonizing death. Learning Curve... It will probably seem fine for now, problems will arise after next winter and it tries to come out of dormancy and doesn't push anything out.

Junipers tend to react opposite to Pines where as Junipers take bare rooting much better and their foliage tampered much harder, and vice versa.

I think you may want to take some steps to try to prevent it form dying. Maybe cut back the roots just as hard as you pruned the top. As up top, as so below (or something like that)...

Either way, never give up trying to keep it alive.

Cutting the roots may be a good solution but not as hard as you cut the top.

 

[FrankP999]

Dumb question here -- Why would you cut the roots?

 

[Nybonsai12]

Always enjoy seeing what you are doing with tropicals Ryan and now looking forward to seeing you tackle something new, thanks for sharing, hope it pulls through for you.

 

[MidMichBonsai]

Dumb question here -- Why would you cut the roots?

To balance the roots and the foliage. With too many roots and not enough foliage to feed them their necessary carbohydrates, they will begin dying quickly. The first ones to die will likely be the feeder roots on the tips which would in effect kill the tree. If the roots are pruned, they would be balanced with the foliage and therefore increase the tree's chance of of survival.

 

[GrimLore]

Welcome to the Dark Side Ryan! My Wife has done the same thing to so many Junipers that she has requested I do not get her anymore An FYI - although it is common a Green Mound Juniper is more likely to survive(not always but more often) abuse a bit better with balanced root reduction.

Grimmy

 

[gjantzer]

Are people really cutting foliage and roots at the same time? Is that really the best way to go with junipers? It almost forbidden in other species but recommended with junipers?

 

[Vance Wood]

Are people really cutting foliage and roots at the same time? Is that really the best way to go with junipers? It almost forbidden in other species but recommended with junipers?

It does work within reason.

 

[coh]

Over/under on how long before Ryan has 100 junipers? I'll say 9 months

Just messin' around, Ryan. Good luck with this one (and future ones as well). Personally, I still have trouble keeping junipers healthy so I have no advice to offer.

Chris

 

[drew33998]

I personally wouldn't cut the roots. Here is an example of a tree that I did the same thing he did, left all the roots and it came back super healthy. Only difference was timing. I chopped it back in early winter.

 

[johng]

Are people really cutting foliage and roots at the same time? Is that really the best way to go with junipers? It almost forbidden in other species but recommended with junipers?

For most species, I have had the best results occur when heavy pruning is combined with root pruning.

 

[edprocoat]

For most species, I have had the best results occur when heavy pruning is combined with root pruning.

Yes me too ! I learned this way and have used it for 40 years with good results. I always try to balance the two, it seems to lessen the recovery of the tree.

Ryan you heretic !!! Now don't get all cocky and expect use to calling you conifer ryan now ...

ed

 

[Redwood Ryan]

So....when should I expect this guy to start dying? I didn't touch the roots, and yet it's still pushing growth.