Juniper progression/next steps

[mds_1978]

Hi everyone,

I've been developing this juniper for a little over 4 years now, and I'm pretty happy with how it's progressed so far.

The timing of the photos below -

1. First bought May 2017
2. First styling May 2017
3. August 2017
4. April 2019
5. Pruned/wired April 2019
6. March 2020
7. Repot, restyle April 2020
8. December 2020
9. June 2021
10. Light prune 2021

I have some questions -

• What should I be aiming for next for this tree? I'm thinking refining/developing the foliage pads, but any development suggestions are very welcome.
• Is there anything I could have improved on in the first stages of development?
• The trunk is very thin for the height of the tree. Is that an issue/is there anything I can do to mitigate that?
• The first branch on the right is very low on the trunk & I'm wonder whether to remove/jin it. Any thoughts on this?
• Pot suggestions.

Thanks,

Marc.

 

[Forsoothe!]

"Picking" the tips to shape these critters is a bitch and unrewarding for the most part, but hedge trimming with a giant (12") scissors once a year shapes them better. I know you're not suppose to do it that way and you get brown tips, but if done in autumn they grow out from that trimming into that shape the following spring and bury the brown tips below new green tips. On larger trees, there is no substitute. I should point out that eventually the tree gets to a point where the clouds are as large as you can stand and they need to be hedged back so the new growth is within bounds. At that point, the scissors is the only answer.

 

[mds_1978]

"Picking" the tips to shape these critters is a bitch and unrewarding for the most part, but hedge trimming with a giant (12") scissors once a year shapes them better. I know you're not suppose to do it that way and you get brown tips, but if done in autumn they grow out from that trimming into that shape the following spring and bury the brown tips below new green tips. On larger trees, there is no substitute. I should point out that eventually the tree gets to a point where the clouds are as large as you can stand and they need to be hedged back so the new growth is within bounds. At that point, the scissors is the only answer.

Interesting, I've never thought of doing that with a juniper. I might well give that a try in autumn if it's put out enough growth. Thanks!

 

[Forsoothe!]

Understand, hedging with a scissors is the gross end of the trimming scale. When you approach showtime you do the picking of individuals that violate the canopy limit, and just below the surface so the break doesn't show.

 

[mds_1978]

Understand, hedging with a scissors is the gross end of the trimming scale. When you approach showtime you do the picking of individuals that violate the canopy limit, and just below the surface so the break doesn't show.

Understood, thank you for the advice.

 

[bwaynef]

The angle the branches leave the trunk is inconsistent on the left and the right of the trunk. Other than that, its impressive how quickly this tree is developing.

 

[Japonicus]

Hard to believe the difference in photo 5 & 6 is only 11 months
6 & 7 wow what a difference a styling made
then the difference between 7 & 8 is one growing season.

Well documented, and nicely done. I'm seeing continuity in the branches how they exit the trunk
and that angle echos throughout. The angle of the branches how the foliage is displayed
can only be tweaked down on the left side, by 1st lowering the 1st left branch and so on, up the trunk.
That's nothing that has to be done right away, I had to look a couple times to pick up on that.
I think you've done a fantastic job with this. Would be proud to have done it myself

I would post the pic and caption it to help the viewer rather than chasing back n forth between
enlarged thumbnail to full pic, X that and gather date info, reopen the next and so on.
That's all I would do differently

The trunk is very thin for the height of the tree. Is that an issue/is there anything I can do to mitigate that?

This is how it goes growing in a grow pot. In ground would've been more productive for girth.
It still could be ground grown out to mitigate, but would I do it? I put 3 JWP in the ground this Spring
and hoping a 3rd one of them does not die. I've never lost a WP in a pot,
so that would weigh heavy on my personal decision there.

 

[Japonicus]

Is this juniper for sale?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Interesting, I've never thought of doing that with a juniper. I might well give that a try in autumn if it's put out enough growth. Thanks!

I would encourage you to continue to never think of doing that with a juniper.

 

[mds_1978]

This is how it goes growing in a grow pot. In ground would've been more productive for girth.
It still could be ground grown out to mitigate, but would I do it? I put 3 JWP in the ground this Spring
and hoping a 3rd one of them does not die. I've never lost a WP in a pot,
so that would weigh heavy on my personal decision there.

I think I'll leave it in the pot, I don't want to chance losing it and I think the thinness of the trunk makes it look quite elegant anyway.

Thanks for the feedback!

 

[Hartinez]

I would encourage you to continue to never think of doing that with a juniper.

this.

Also. You’ve done a really excellent job with this development so far and have documented as well. Things I’d consider working on pushing forward on this tree are.

-focus on the angle at which the branches leave the trunk. Consitency and harmony between each will making a pleasing image. Looks pretty good so far, but it’s something to focus on.

-consider which branches you want to Jin down the road. A well designed juniper should have some element of dead wood, wether that be Shari, jin and wether it is power carved or shaped by hand. Yours has none just yet, but that’s ok! Letting branches get thick from growth will only make for a more convincing and appealing Jin. Plus it will help the Jin work with the flow of the live stuff.

-tidy up the pads very few months by eliminating the downward and directly upward growth from the bottoms. Also cutting out crotch growth when it gets things overly busy. But don’t be constantly cutting off new growth. You want your juniper to throw out long shoots and get a bit unsightly from time to time. It’s good for the overall health of the tree to grow uninhibited from time to time.

-I echo the first statement I made when I say, listen to Brian van fleets advice and DO NOT hedge prune your juniper. You are creating bonsai, not topiary. Deliberately trimming and wiring all of the branchlets over the years can be tedious, but it’s also very rewarding if done properly and creates the best image.

study this thread right here for a master class in refining juniper. take note of the Shari and jins he creates and how the foliage plays with that deadwood and with each other.

Shimpaku from Evergreen Gardenworks

Oh yeah, thats coming back real nice! Cant wait to see this one styled.

www.bonsainut.com

 

[mds_1978]

this.

Also. You’ve done a really excellent job with this development so far and have documented as well. Things I’d consider working on pushing forward on this tree are.

-focus on the angle at which the branches leave the trunk. Consitency and harmony between each will making a pleasing image. Looks pretty good so far, but it’s something to focus on.

-consider which branches you want to Jin down the road. A well designed juniper should have some element of dead wood, wether that be Shari, jin and wether it is power carved or shaped by hand. Yours has none just yet, but that’s ok! Letting branches get thick from growth will only make for a more convincing and appealing Jin. Plus it will help the Jin work with the flow of the live stuff.

-tidy up the pads very few months by eliminating the downward and directly upward growth from the bottoms. Also cutting out crotch growth when it gets things overly busy. But don’t be constantly cutting off new growth. You want your juniper to throw out long shoots and get a bit unsightly from time to time. It’s good for the overall health of the tree to grow uninhibited from time to time.

-I echo the first statement I made when I say, listen to Brian van fleets advice and DO NOT hedge prune your juniper. You are creating bonsai, not topiary. Deliberately trimming and wiring all of the branchlets over the years can be tedious, but it’s also very rewarding if done properly and creates the best image.

study this thread right here for a master class in refining juniper. take note of the Shari and jins he creates and how the foliage plays with that deadwood and with each other.

Shimpaku from Evergreen Gardenworks

Oh yeah, thats coming back real nice! Cant wait to see this one styled.

www.bonsainut.com

Thanks for the kind words and advice - very helpful, and I will have a good read of that thread.

 

[Zerobear]

Hi everyone,

I've been developing this juniper for a little over 4 years now, and I'm pretty happy with how it's progressed so far.

The timing of the photos below -

1. First bought May 2017
2. First styling May 2017
3. August 2017
4. April 2019
5. Pruned/wired April 2019
6. March 2020
7. Repot, restyle April 2020
8. December 2020
9. June 2021
10. Light prune 2021

I have some questions -

• What should I be aiming for next for this tree? I'm thinking refining/developing the foliage pads, but any development suggestions are very welcome.
• Is there anything I could have improved on in the first stages of development?
• The trunk is very thin for the height of the tree. Is that an issue/is there anything I can do to mitigate that?
• The first branch on the right is very low on the trunk & I'm wonder whether to remove/jin it. Any thoughts on this?
• Pot suggestions.

Thanks,

Marc.

Wonderful progress. You seem to be doing everything right for your tree. Pad development is going well and needs to continue. I am impressed with the growth your tree has experienced. If this continues (and I think it will) you will have a tree most of us would love to own.

 

[mds_1978]

Thank you for the kind words. Here's the tree today.

I'll be removing the wire over the next couple of days and then pruning back the pads in early spring. I want to try and drive the foliage on the lowest right side branch back in towards the trunk.

 

[mds_1978]

Wire removed, foliage cleaned up and thinned out and ready for the growing season.

 

[Mame-Mo]

Species? Incredible work.

 

[mds_1978]

Species? Incredible work.

Thank you! It's a Juniperus × pfitzeriana 'Mint Julep'.

 

[just.wing.it]

Nice work! Looks good.
Adding some girth to that trunk would be good.