It was intended as a back-handed compliment, Adair.
I don't like straight, flat branches, but what else can anyone do with such a tree at this point, I ask rhetorically. We usually must live with what we can make and cannot always get what we want (hmmm, that has a familiar ring to it
).
I'm working this one as a Formal Upright. It has its flaws, but it's rare to find perfect Formals. This one leans towards the front too much.
But, one of the major issues with this tree are the branch's thickness. The second branch, the lowest on the right is almost as thick as the trunk. There's really no fix short of grafting on a whole new set of branches and growing them out 20 years!
So, we try to hide the flaws as best we can.
So, here's the starting point:
Closer to the final image:
This picture was taken before decandling and cutting back, but it shows the tree "full".
The ideas is as follow: normally, I like pine pads to show a bit of the branches on the bottom of the pad, and all the foliage above. The branches are really too thick, so I want the foliage to obscure the view of some of the branches so you can't really see how thick they are.
Judy mentioned that she likes to have to foliage higher than the way I've styled this one. And that works with thinner branches.
I'm thinking that in a couple to 3 years I can get this one full enough that the flaws won't be as apparent.
Yeah... Just another cookie cutter tree!