Some trees I'm working on...

[coh]

Have you considered removing the lower branch/sub-trunk on the burning bush? You'd end up with a much more tree-like form rather than bush-like. I think it would give it a better sense of scale. Just an idea.

Yes, I've considered that and will consider it again . I think it will look more tree like as I remove the extra branches that are currently being allowed to grow to build size (it does look a lot like a shrub right now) and build ramification. I've gone back and forth on that trunk, time will tell!

 

[JudyB]

Wow that last maple has killer color.

 

[coh]

Wow that last maple has killer color.

Best color I've seen on it in the 4 or 5 years I've had it! Funny season, a lot of the maple bonsai/pre-bonsai have absolutely stunning color this year, but the hornbeams were very ordinary. And most of the landscape maples are a rather dull, mainly yellowish tone (versus vibrant reds) this year. Our summer was very warm and dry for this area, in fact the grass had browned out and didn't need to be cut from around early July to mid September. Every autumn is different, keeps things interesting!

 

[JudyB]

Yeah, last year was great for my hornbeams, and this year so far is looking like not going to be great. Of course, I have very little that is even thinking about color a couple J. maples and the hackberries, but all others are pretty much stubborn old green.

 

[Adair M]

Coh, thanks for sharing your trees! The colors are magnificent!

Did you pick up any new trees at the Nationals? There were tons of great trees for sale!

 

[coh]

Coh, thanks for sharing your trees! The colors are magnificent!

Did you pick up any new trees at the Nationals? There were tons of great trees for sale!

I looked at and considered a lot of trees, but most of them were more than I was willing to spend. So I only came home with a couple of longer term projects (a hinoki and pitch pine), both were dug or collected this spring so they need time to settle in. Almost bought a collected fir or spruce (can't recall which) from Todd Schlafer but someone got it before I could decide.

 

[coh]

Last one for now, this is supposed to be an American elm. Bought 3 years ago (or so) from someone on ebay. It didn't have a great root system so I planted it in a big box and have mostly let it be, gradually removing some of the unnecessary/larger branches from the top. Want to keep developing this as an elm style, at least what I think of as elm style based on photos of American elms (most were gone from where I grew up before I came along). May need to be ground layered as the base isn't very good.

 

[coh]

Quick update on a couple of willow leaf ficuses from post 44. The first one got neglected and dried out earlier this winter, then got a spider mite
infestation. The result was almost total leaf drop and loss of some finer branching. I cleaned that out and have managed to eradicate the mites
and encourage some new growth though this is a tough time of year for ficus up here. If this one regains vigor this summer I'll go ahead and do more
significant thinning and branch selection. I think I might have to cut the first right branch way back to build taper as right now it's kind of a thick
ugly thing. Either that or I'll just grow a branch to put some foliage in front of the middle area of the branch to block it.

This is close to what I would envision as final height (maybe a tad taller), but the apex needs a lot of work.



The second one didn't get neglected so it has held most of its foliage through the winter. I did thin it out a little but will be
doing more this summer (there are too many branches in the apex area). Think this will need to be turned slightly
counterclockwise to expose more of the trunk scar but it depends partly on what the base looks like. Going to try to
start transitioning to a shallower container this year. Design wise, I think this is also close to final height. I need to decide
whether to extend the lower left or right branch and shorten the other. Leaning toward extending on the left.

 

[Adair M]

Quick update on a couple of willow leaf ficuses from post 44. The first one got neglected and dried out earlier this winter, then got a spider mite
infestation. The result was almost total leaf drop and loss of some finer branching. I cleaned that out and have managed to eradicate the mites
and encourage some new growth though this is a tough time of year for ficus up here. If this one regains vigor this summer I'll go ahead and do more
significant thinning and branch selection. I think I might have to cut the first right branch way back to build taper as right now it's kind of a thick
ugly thing. Either that or I'll just grow a branch to put some foliage in front of the middle area of the branch to block it.

This is close to what I would envision as final height (maybe a tad taller), but the apex needs a lot of work.

View attachment 231751

The second one didn't get neglected so it has held most of its foliage through the winter. I did thin it out a little but will be
doing more this summer (there are too many branches in the apex area). Think this will need to be turned slightly
counterclockwise to expose more of the trunk scar but it depends partly on what the base looks like. Going to try to
start transitioning to a shallower container this year. Design wise, I think this is also close to final height. I need to decide
whether to extend the lower left or right branch and shorten the other. Leaning toward extending on the left.

View attachment 231752

Can you post pictures taken from the sides?

 

[coh]

Can you post pictures taken from the sides?

Why? What do you see or think you see or expect/hope you'll see? Let me know and perhaps I'll post side photos

 

[0soyoung]

Why? What do you see or think you see or expect/hope you'll see? Let me know and perhaps I'll post side photos

This is the Styling Police. We want to know if it correctly bows to the viewer and whether the bottom left and bottom right branches extend forward to embrace the viewer. You will be punished otherwise!!

Seriously, I'd like to see these other views too.

Hey, @Adair M, maybe you should start a "3D View Thread" where one must post a front side and top-down view of their trees when they post (analogous to The Tree Thread).

 

[Adair M]

Why? What do you see or think you see or expect/hope you'll see? Let me know and perhaps I'll post side photos

The first tree looks, in the photo, as if the two lowest branches stick straight out to the sides. There also doesn’t appear to be a “back branch”. It looks rather like a scarecrow, at least it does to me in the photo. But a straight on photo can be deceiving, so before I told you that “your tree looks like a scarecrow”, I thought I’d give you a chance to show me that your tree wasn’t actually shaped like a scarecrow, but since you didn’t, I’m now forced to tell you that your tree looks like a scarecrow! Lol!!! I could be the flash that flattened everything, or maybe it really is just flat. I can’t tell. A side picture would help.

 

[coh]

The first tree looks, in the photo, as if the two lowest branches stick straight out to the sides. There also doesn’t appear to be a “back branch”. It looks rather like a scarecrow, at least it does to me in the photo. But a straight on photo can be deceiving, so before I told you that “your tree looks like a scarecrow”, I thought I’d give you a chance to show me that your tree wasn’t actually shaped like a scarecrow, but since you didn’t, I’m now forced to tell you that your tree looks like a scarecrow! Lol!!! I could be the flash that flattened everything, or maybe it really is just flat. I can’t tell. A side picture would help.

Ah, so that's where you were going. I was thinking something else.

I'll try to get a photo but what I can say is that yes, the first tree is a bit of a scarecrow. The two main branches come off the trunk almost exactly opposite one another, though at different levels. The one
on the right extends pretty much straight out. The one on the left splits almost immediately into 2 branches, one which moves back and the other forward, though not by much. The photo (didn't use flash)
does flatten it a bit so you can't really tell the one branch moves forward.

In the back there is a large branch that comes off right above the base. I have that covered in the photo because it is going to be removed (too low, using to thicken base). There is a small branch that
is being developed as a back branch, it comes off the trunk a little higher than the two main branches. Right now it is so small it isn't really visible from the front.

 

[Nanuk]

You've got some very nice trees coh.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[coh]

Update on the euonymus. Got some pics a month or two ago when the leaves had all dropped but it was still full of fruit. Probably
the most fruit this has ever set. (earlier photos in posts 64,66,79)



Did a little cutting and pasting to expand the canopy. This may be a bit too large for the trunk size but we'll see.
The big question concerns the subtrunk on the left...does it stay or go? I kind of like the asymmetry it adds but
it may depend on what the base looks like. It's buried somewhere and I need to repot and dig down this
spring to see exactly what is there.



Edited out the subtrunk and adjusted the canopy and pot size a bit. Haven't decided which way to go but
am leaning in a particular direction. Of course branches will be selected and thinned out, many have been left
to thicken certain areas. Will be evaluating this spring. Fun little tree to work with, the seasonal variety is
nice. Slow though with only 1 growth flush per season.

 

[0soyoung]

compare to

 

[coh]

compare to

View attachment 231917

Sorry, no I will probably introduce more asymmetry at some point, but not like that.

 

[Hyn Patty]

I really love your euonymus and I'm super enjoying mine! I got mine last spring and did in fact get two flushes of growth on it that was rather exciting. The only reason I got that second flush of growth was probably because I cut it back hard right after the first flush - and suddenly all the buds that hadn't opened were exposed to sunlight, no longer shaded by the other new leaves. It developed rapidly the first year and now I am going to put it into the ground to work on thickening up the trunk this year. It also bore a lot of the small red fruit. Cuttings I took from the initial pruning rooted in only water rapidly and potted up well. Most of them I already gave away but I kept one for a mame I've wired up so it's twisting this way and that. I was amazed at how easy it was to get the cuttings to root so I'll get more going this year. Great species and cultivar. Keep us updated on the evolution of yours - it's lovely.

 

[BobbyLane]

this looks nice

 

[coh]

I really love your euonymus and I'm super enjoying mine! I got mine last spring and did in fact get two flushes of growth on it that was rather exciting. The only reason I got that second flush of growth was probably because I cut it back hard right after the first flush - and suddenly all the buds that hadn't opened were exposed to sunlight, no longer shaded by the other new leaves. It developed rapidly the first year and now I am going to put it into the ground to work on thickening up the trunk this year. It also bore a lot of the small red fruit. Cuttings I took from the initial pruning rooted in only water rapidly and potted up well. Most of them I already gave away but I kept one for a mame I've wired up so it's twisting this way and that. I was amazed at how easy it was to get the cuttings to root so I'll get more going this year. Great species and cultivar. Keep us updated on the evolution of yours - it's lovely.

I've seen landscape specimens put out a second flush after being defoliated by caterpillars, so they obviously can do it. Have never worked up the courage to try on this one to see what happens, but it's
not really necessary, there's no rush!