to pinch or not to pinch?

[Chris Johnston]

Brent, of course you are correct. And I have difficulty remembering threads like that, probably I have to get more active in bookmarking them. It was excellent, and you describe the process better than I did with more detail.

What a difference this technique makes over pinching!

 

[Chris Johnston]

Chris, I also don't get brown tips on my junipers. (well maybe an oddball one or two if I got lazy after a two hour session) I'm not sure of Vance's method, but I twist between the finger and thumb applying pressure at the same time. Works like a charm. Your right that a crotch shoot maybe better someday than what you have now but your talking a long, long time and then again it might not be as good as what you have. So in my opinion that option might be a bit counter productive when the big picture is looked at.

Tom, I am talking about rebuilding a tree that is too leggy. In order to force the growth back, you will be using some of those strong bits that come up in the crotch. Once you remove most of what is beyond that, you can remake the branch fairly quickly, but of course you would not do this on a tree you want to show.

And if your juniper is growing properly, it's not a long, long, time to remake a branch. Perhaps 2-4 years if you are rebuilding the entire branch. Plus, if you know what you are doing, it will have to be better than what you have, if you need to replace the branch anyway. Of course, I am not talking about replacing a major structural branch with deadwood, etc., just the foliage bearing parts. If you have a branch like that, of course you will want to graft.

 

[Brent]

Al

No, that isn't the tree. Here it is, sorry for the crappy photo, the lighting is really bad in the REBS Show.

Brent

http://bonsainurseryman.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/rebs200610.jpg