JBP RESTYLE: FROM 'S-CURVE' TO CURTSY

aframe · Sep 10, 2015

This is a tree I bought from my teacher in March. He wanted me to wire it and put it in our club show back in April. But after studying it, I chose to repot it and begin addressing it's faults:
S-curve trunk, with long straight sections
Thick branching vs. trunk size
Erratic nebari

March 2015:

aframe · Sep 10, 2015

I had considered starting over by sacrificing everything above the first branch; that may have turned out to be the best choice as merely changing the planting angle did not physically correct the trunk faults.

Pruning and repotting May '15:

aframe · Sep 10, 2015

de-candled and partially wired; branches were softly bent to receive the greatest exposure to light. The lowest branch was brought up. It will be reduced and moved to the right in the future.
Before and after raising the lowest branch.

Eric Group · Sep 10, 2015

Great job! You added a lot of interest to this tree!

barrosinc · Sep 10, 2015

Good decision!

Bunjeh · Sep 10, 2015

Totally changed the character and evocation. Nice.

Djtommy · Sep 10, 2015

you probably want to have the apex also still a bit lower, i would still cut the top branch, its sticking out a bit now.
but nice work

sorce · Sep 11, 2015

aframe said:
I had considered starting over by sacrificing everything above the first branch; that may have turned out to be the best choice

Um. Yes!

I hope that stays in the plan.
Maybe a good Air layer prospect, as it is a lot of development to lose.
It just doesn't belong on this tree!

From Drastic to Fantastic!

Sorce

aframe · Sep 11, 2015

Djtommy said:
you probably want to have the apex also still a bit lower, i would still cut the top branch, its sticking out a bit now.
but nice work

Yes: apex needs to be lower, more compact. The trunk and nebari need years of development, and a sacrifice will be developed from the top branch. I'll likely graft a sacrifice lower on the trunk this fall.

sorce said:
Um. Yes!

I hope that stays in the plan.
Maybe a good Air layer prospect, as it is a lot of development to lose.
It just doesn't belong on this tree!

From Drastic to Fantastic!

Sorce

Unfortunately I jinned the lowest branch. We'll see about designing around the current lowest branch; that would definitely make an interesting shohin.

zelk · Sep 11, 2015

I like where this is going.

Potawatomi13 · Sep 12, 2015

Personally I do not at all like to cut off major parts of tree but could see a more interesting tree design if all above first branch was removed. Possibly layer if wanting to save it? (Upper tree)

Mike Corazzi · Sep 12, 2015

DANG IT!
Now ya got me thinkin.

Got a similar tree.

NOW thinking of getting the nippers.

Here's a few views for your suggestions.

Mike Corazzi · Sep 12, 2015

Or... TWO limbs off.

Or possibly jin the back one.??

Mike Corazzi · Sep 12, 2015

And back to ONE limb off but different view.

KennedyMarx · Sep 20, 2015

It's dramatically better already. I would be very hesitant to remove everything and start over from the first branch. If anything, I would remove/jin the first branch and wire the top branches down a little more. There are several good fronts on the pictures you shared. Nice to have options.

JudyB · Sep 20, 2015

If the trunk were more slender, it would make a really nice literati. As it is, I think the focal point is that lovely downward bend of the main trunk as seen in pic 137. But for me the lower branch is distracting from that pov. Terrific decision to change this tree.

@Mike Corazzi, you should start your own thread about your tree, and you will get more advice for it that way.

aframe · Sep 21, 2015

@JudyB Thanks for the input; which picture is 137? The lowest branch does poke the viewer in the eye, more so in person. It needs to be reduced and moved to viewer's right if it is to be kept.
I pruned the roots significantly, as they circled the previous pot almost twice, before repotting in the pond basket; I will not be adding significant movement or removing any more branches until next fall/winter. The summer buds are stunted where I decandled, and the tree doesn't seem vigorous.

The tree has a 90 deg. elbow in the 2nd bend of the trunk, without much interest above this bend. This is why I do not think it will make a decent literati.

JudyB · Sep 21, 2015

042015... must have been looking at the number of views, oops! This one is probably very hard to see in 2d. I'll be watching for this to be updated to see what you do with it.

aframe · Sep 26, 2015

Yes, I think this tree and most under developed trees, that I have, are difficult to picture in 2d. Here's an image showing the circling roots, and just how much were pruned; April 12th.

sorce · Sep 29, 2015

Toe Selfie!

Sorce

JBP RESTYLE: FROM 'S-CURVE' TO CURTSY

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