ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Ya know, the ones I'm not just messing around with and might try to turn into something respectable.
The ones I don't give their own thread anyways.
The ones I don't give their own thread anyways.
Shady's ACTUAL Trees
- Thread starter ShadyStump
- Start date
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
A ponderosa pine I was gifted by @Colorado last year.
I struggled to think of what to do with it for a while, as it is rather one sided with the branching and lacking in taper. It finally struck me yesterday to pull the top half down to hopefully encourage a new leader, which I wired up.
Forgot to get a "before" shot. This "first stages" shot should suffice.
Snipped a handlebar and one that was part of that whorle where the new leader starts. A bit of wire, and I think you can get the idea.
Just image that whole top half of the tree that's being held with the blue wire isn't there.
Theoretically, now that the original apex is lower than the new apex, the tree will prioritize the new leader while still having the other half of the tree to add strength and energy. Doing it this way also allows me to add some curve to the intended trunk without using up yards of wire.
Which, speaking of wire, I still need some practice at.
Getting better, though.
I struggled to think of what to do with it for a while, as it is rather one sided with the branching and lacking in taper. It finally struck me yesterday to pull the top half down to hopefully encourage a new leader, which I wired up.
Forgot to get a "before" shot. This "first stages" shot should suffice.
Snipped a handlebar and one that was part of that whorle where the new leader starts. A bit of wire, and I think you can get the idea.
Just image that whole top half of the tree that's being held with the blue wire isn't there.
Theoretically, now that the original apex is lower than the new apex, the tree will prioritize the new leader while still having the other half of the tree to add strength and energy. Doing it this way also allows me to add some curve to the intended trunk without using up yards of wire.
Which, speaking of wire, I still need some practice at.
Getting better, though.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
There's also a Norway pine.
This will be an experiment relating to the previously stated theory.
A VERY apically dominant species, there were 7 strong healthy candles starting from the same point in the apex. I removed 4 of them, afraid to remove all of them.
Then some more blue wire to bring the top down.
That tiny little spigot at the bottom has the start of a candle that's not doing anything. With luck the tree will start a new apex further down the trunk, allowing me to progressively chop the trunk down without risking the health of the tree, and I might even get some extra growth out of that low branch.
That little thing, if all goes well, will be the final leader on a chubby little shohin some day.
This will be an experiment relating to the previously stated theory.
A VERY apically dominant species, there were 7 strong healthy candles starting from the same point in the apex. I removed 4 of them, afraid to remove all of them.
Then some more blue wire to bring the top down.
That tiny little spigot at the bottom has the start of a candle that's not doing anything. With luck the tree will start a new apex further down the trunk, allowing me to progressively chop the trunk down without risking the health of the tree, and I might even get some extra growth out of that low branch.
That little thing, if all goes well, will be the final leader on a chubby little shohin some day.
Colorado
Masterpiece
Nice, Shady!! Looking forward to watching these progress!
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
I like these! One of us was previously introduced, but...
*Clears throat*
Hey baby!... I'm HorseloverFat.... How 'bout we.. *motions towards door with head* ..get outta here. ...
Go talk someplace.
When wiring trees, for my first two years of "really enjoying wiring", I realized I was not paying enough attention to the 3rd dimension.
Like a PSA..from HLF
"Don't let this, happen to you!"
It's too early, now.. just wanted to warn you before you get cruisin' on branches and apex...
Cause you like to use weights and guy wires and such.
Ope! Jas'lookin' owht'fer'yah a minute, dere!
*Clears throat*
Hey baby!... I'm HorseloverFat.... How 'bout we.. *motions towards door with head* ..get outta here. ...
Go talk someplace.
When wiring trees, for my first two years of "really enjoying wiring", I realized I was not paying enough attention to the 3rd dimension.
Like a PSA..from HLF
"Don't let this, happen to you!"
It's too early, now.. just wanted to warn you before you get cruisin' on branches and apex...
Cause you like to use weights and guy wires and such.
Ope! Jas'lookin' owht'fer'yah a minute, dere!
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ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
I like these! One of us was previously introduced, but...
*Clears throat*
Hey baby!... I'm HorseloverFat.... How 'bout we.. *motions towards door with head* ..get outta here. ...
Go talk someplace.
When wiring trees, for my first two years of "really enjoying wiring", I realized I was not paying enough attention to the 3rd dimension.
Like a PSA..from HLF
"Don't let this, happen to you!"
It's too early, now.. just wanted to warn you before you get cruisin' on branches and apex...
Cause you like to use weights and guy wires and such.
I don't even know what to do with you sometimes, man.
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
I don't even know what to do with you sometimes, man.
You sound like my parents, growing up.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
I'm adding this one in here.
Mame yamadori with deadwood, found on that last adventure where we got lost and had to call for a ride back to my car. Broke my collapsible shovel getting it out of the rocks.
No clue what it is as of yet. Waiting for the foliage to mature before taking my ID app to it, unless of course someone here knows.
The collection.
And potted up. Coco coir, perlite and 8822 with just 8822 on top to help hold everything in place.
And here it is today when I pulled it out of the tiny greenhouse for some fresh air.
I'm surprised about how excited I am about this one! It has so much character crammed into a tiny little package.
If at any time I feel like it's suffering in my care it will be up for adoption to someone better suited for the task. It deserves it.
For now I'm just letting it recover, and trying to learn some about mame before maming it.
Mame yamadori with deadwood, found on that last adventure where we got lost and had to call for a ride back to my car. Broke my collapsible shovel getting it out of the rocks.
No clue what it is as of yet. Waiting for the foliage to mature before taking my ID app to it, unless of course someone here knows.
The collection.
And potted up. Coco coir, perlite and 8822 with just 8822 on top to help hold everything in place.
And here it is today when I pulled it out of the tiny greenhouse for some fresh air.
I'm surprised about how excited I am about this one! It has so much character crammed into a tiny little package.
If at any time I feel like it's suffering in my care it will be up for adoption to someone better suited for the task. It deserves it.
For now I'm just letting it recover, and trying to learn some about mame before maming it.
Attachments
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Another one I meant to add to this thread.
Choke cherry, Canada red. The foliage turns a dark red once mature.
Missed the ball on trimming when it first got going this season, but when the time comes I'll be cutting it back hard; hoping for some budding down lower to bring the canopy in and maybe, if I'm lucky, some sacrifice branches to thicken the trunk.
It was the deadwood in the trunk that attracted me to it, and one long vertical primary branch is also dead. I'm keeping the branch as a feature, and may one day connect the deadwood in the trunk to it.
Definitely some work to do on the nebari. I'll have find something deeper to put it in, maybe.
Choke cherry, Canada red. The foliage turns a dark red once mature.
Missed the ball on trimming when it first got going this season, but when the time comes I'll be cutting it back hard; hoping for some budding down lower to bring the canopy in and maybe, if I'm lucky, some sacrifice branches to thicken the trunk.
It was the deadwood in the trunk that attracted me to it, and one long vertical primary branch is also dead. I'm keeping the branch as a feature, and may one day connect the deadwood in the trunk to it.
Definitely some work to do on the nebari. I'll have find something deeper to put it in, maybe.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
The dog felt ignored, and got my attention the best way he knows how.
The Austrian pine lost that lowest branch that was the crux of the whole plan.
But on the flip side (literally) there's this now...
...upon which all my hopes and dreams for this tree now rest.
The Austrian pine lost that lowest branch that was the crux of the whole plan.
But on the flip side (literally) there's this now...
...upon which all my hopes and dreams for this tree now rest.
pandacular
Masterpiece
I don't think I've seen anyone use colored wire on their trees. What's the story behind the blue?
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Bought a big roll of it over a year ago when I didn't want to spend money on copper. Just cheap plastic coated steel. I felt it would be more appropriate here since I'm only working on basic structure and most of what's wired is intended to be removed in the future. The plastic coating should also help prevent the wire cutting in.
BTW, my 12 year old would love your username. She loves pandas!
pandacular
Masterpiece
got it, I figured cost effectiveness was part of it.
I like pandas too, but they're hardly my favorite animal. It's always hard to say why this became my handle, but at least it's never been taken by anyone.
I like pandas too, but they're hardly my favorite animal. It's always hard to say why this became my handle, but at least it's never been taken by anyone.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Updates two months later.
The ponderosa is blown up!
Not the best shot, but you should get the idea. New needles are LONG, and several buds to candle out next season.
The Norway pine isn't quite so vigorous, but many new buds forming around that lowest node. I'm less panicked now about options for the future.
The mame yamadori is hanging in there strong, despite having been knocked about, spilled and rolled over many times; mostly by squirrels.
Still don't have a 100% ID on it.
The ponderosa is blown up!
Not the best shot, but you should get the idea. New needles are LONG, and several buds to candle out next season.
The Norway pine isn't quite so vigorous, but many new buds forming around that lowest node. I'm less panicked now about options for the future.
The mame yamadori is hanging in there strong, despite having been knocked about, spilled and rolled over many times; mostly by squirrels.
Still don't have a 100% ID on it.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Also the Canada Red.
It's had a rough year.
When I moved everything behind a fence to keep the dog from eating my trees, this got moved from afternoon shade to full sun. Not so bad at first, but then the wet spring rolled into a dry hot period, and the entire top layer got sunburned.
THEN the grasshoppers descended! I actually feel a bit blessed because somehow they've not been quite as bad in my yard as neighbors'. On my dad's property it Plagues of Egypt level. You can sit on the front steps without sitting in grasshopper manure.
Yeah, so many of the buggers that their droppings have become a problem. The alfalfa in his pasture has all been stripped to the stem, as well as the entirety of the foliage on the walnut tree he's trying to bring back from suckers after the rest died.
It's had a rough year.
When I moved everything behind a fence to keep the dog from eating my trees, this got moved from afternoon shade to full sun. Not so bad at first, but then the wet spring rolled into a dry hot period, and the entire top layer got sunburned.
THEN the grasshoppers descended! I actually feel a bit blessed because somehow they've not been quite as bad in my yard as neighbors'. On my dad's property it Plagues of Egypt level. You can sit on the front steps without sitting in grasshopper manure.
Yeah, so many of the buggers that their droppings have become a problem. The alfalfa in his pasture has all been stripped to the stem, as well as the entirety of the foliage on the walnut tree he's trying to bring back from suckers after the rest died.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
And adding this ficus benjamina to the thread.
This used to be my desk tree, some of you may recall. So far it's my tree that's furthest along in development.
I haven't done much to it all season, and just gave it a fistful of gardencote, but haven't managed any major damage to it yet.
I'll be working on bringing the new growth under control soon, and it will likely winter in me bedroom this year where I can keep it in mind better.
This used to be my desk tree, some of you may recall. So far it's my tree that's furthest along in development.
I haven't done much to it all season, and just gave it a fistful of gardencote, but haven't managed any major damage to it yet.
I'll be working on bringing the new growth under control soon, and it will likely winter in me bedroom this year where I can keep it in mind better.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
So, the former desk tree FINALLY got a haircut. Almost a restyle, but it'd have to have had some style to begin with.
Before, front and back
After
Hoping for some serious back budding after losing that much. The idea now is a somewhat more traditional banyan style, with the lower primary branches reaching more vertical and joining what will eventually be a single thick, sprawling pad of foliage.
Before, front and back
After
Hoping for some serious back budding after losing that much. The idea now is a somewhat more traditional banyan style, with the lower primary branches reaching more vertical and joining what will eventually be a single thick, sprawling pad of foliage.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Nebari work may be in the cards when it's time.
One big surface root, but the pot is full of. How it recovers may decide when it gets a repot.
One big surface root, but the pot is full of. How it recovers may decide when it gets a repot.
milehigh_7
Mister 500,000
I've seen these leaves before, I am trying to remember what this is. I know it but can't remember. I started googling native Colorado shrubs and wow you have a ton of natives that would be great if you could collect them!
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ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Ficus benjamina.
Not the greatest subject for bonsai, though there are some stunning examples on BNut, but loads of fun and very forgiving of screwups.
