Dwarf Alberta Spruce, for practice

mikemking said:

Well, here's what I ended up with. I'm glad I had some cheap, probably throwaway material.

• I think I pruned away too much, and didn't pair branches well
• I think I did a poor job wiring

Any feedback is welcome

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I've seen much worse, actually (looking in mirror). Maybe just let it grow a while and see how it presents itself in a year or two. There's nothing wrong with taking a slow approach and styling over time.

As for the wiring, this video helped me a lot: http://www.craftsy.com/ext/ColinLewis_4616_free

Attmos said:

Cut the top down to the second branch.

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Interesting. Might give that a try. Thanks!

Wulfskaar said:

I've seen much worse, actually (looking in mirror). Maybe just let it grow a while and see how it presents itself in a year or two. There's nothing wrong with taking a slow approach and styling over time.

As for the wiring, this video helped me a lot: http://www.craftsy.com/ext/ColinLewis_4616_free

Click to expand...

Thanks!

mikemking said:

Interesting. Might give that a try. Thanks!

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You might want to check with someone more experienced than I am before making a drastic change like that, .
I suppose I should be more careful about what I say too, lol.

Attmos said:

You might want to check with someone more experienced than I ...

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LOL. It's all good man! The whole point of this hobby is to learn stuff and have fun. Some folks take things way too seriously.

mikemking said:

I decided to pick up this cheap DAS at Home Depot so I could practice some pruning and styling

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Did the same. It’s a great way to practice/learn techniques.

2021

2025


I was able to make primary wired branches stay in place after two seasons. The mechanical action of moving them around helps them to set, if they aren’t too damaged in the process. The problem is new growth angling upwards.
One variant of wiring I’ve found helpful is to guy-wire a limb downwards part way across the branch. Then use the remaining to finish out wiring normally.
Upwards growing buds/shoots/branches get removed. Crowded bud sites get reduced to limit swelling.
The canopy is slowly getting thinned out to mitigate future swelling sites and increase ramification. Mostly leave the apices alone.

The DAS above was tourniquetted this year to see if it will layer. Its current root base is terrible.

I am testing weighted ornaments to help keep branches down. They’re easy to put on and take off, but limited in directionality they can create.


Good luck with your test subject.

@Cruiser - really nicely done forest, good placement of trees and good size selection.

@Leo in N E Illinois
Thanks! Sadly, DAS make more convincing Douglas-firs than actual Douglas-firs.

@mikemking
If you’re feeling bold, you could go for something like this.
It will either die or bud like crazy.


You’d need to keep the canopy tight. Clean out interior needles. Wire/bend branches downwards.

Thanks for the feedback and recommendations everyone.

Looking at these nice examples, I see I left far too much spacing between branches. I'll probably leave it be and see what it does come spring.