Some of my butcherings

f1pt4

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jcrossett

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And resent of the yew I have an arborvite that is a mmess and trying to get ideas. Your yew reminds me of that.
 

f1pt4

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And resent of the yew I have an arborvite that is a mmess and trying to get ideas. Your yew reminds me of that.


Honestly, the Yew ain't looking that great. I fear it might be a goner. Will wait till July. If no new growth, I'll be reclaiming it's soil and pot.. :(

Then cooking hotdogs over a yew fire.
 

f1pt4

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Picked up a Dawn Redwood last week. When I saw it in the spring the owner chopped it back very hard. It grew very well over the past couple months.

I figured I'd post a photo of it before I put it in a grow bed I'm currently excavating.... For it and about a dozen other trees.

For now I see it as a twin trunk, the right side will be chopped next spring to below the height of that brown eaves tie in the background, as there's a very healthy shoot growing at about that height in the back. At the end of the day we'll see how it fares over the winter, as once again, I heard of stories of terrible die back on this species.


image.jpeg
 

amkhalid

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Nice to see your collection - you've been busy!

I still maintain that, if your cedar was mine, I would try to imitate the style of this cedar. I really think it is a brilliant solution for the naturally slanting cedars that we so often come across in the wild.

I'm not sure which front of your tree I would use, but with either side this image should be achievable.

Maybe other people can voice their opinions.

S1MCIKT.jpg


Qbo28Mh.jpg


Some inspiration for the style...
kLmI8GU.jpg
 

f1pt4

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Nice to see your collection - you've been busy!

I still maintain that, if your cedar was mine, I would try to imitate the style of this cedar. I really think it is a brilliant solution for the naturally slanting cedars that we so often come across in the wild.

I'm not sure which front of your tree I would use, but with either side this image should be achievable.

Maybe other people can voice their opinions.

S1MCIKT.jpg


Qbo28Mh.jpg


Some inspiration for the style...
kLmI8GU.jpg


Thanks Aaron, I'm definitely considering a similar styling, as spoken about last time we met. It will involve an air layer of the top. I'll be exploring that option next spring for sure.

Ya. The collection keeps on growing lol. It's a border line sickness right? Some of those trees from last years post died. A bunch more have been collected and aquired from various sources. I'll post an overall update of my lot in the fall. Right now too busy with work and whatnot. In any case, thanks for your input. Your thuja and larch experience is invaluable.

Cheers!
 

sorce

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Yeah...I just realized, unless I told you before!;) How much I love this thread title!

That's a pretty nice tree...
I don't think I would butcher it yet, or in spring.

Sorce
 

f1pt4

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Yeah...I just realized, unless I told you before!;) How much I love this thread title!

That's a pretty nice tree...
I don't think I would butcher it yet, or in spring.

Sorce

C'mon now. Without (calculated) risk there's no reward. You referring to the cedar or redwood? Don't you say both!
 

sorce

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Redwood.

The Cedar fully needs that hacking !

Sorce
 

f1pt4

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Redwood.

The Cedar fully needs that hacking !

Sorce

Gotcha! Even though there's potential dieback with the dawn redwood, they are extremely vigorous growers. Another one I have grew about two feet already this year and it's still pushing new growth. I figured with that kind of vigor, a hack back wouldn't hurt it. But perhaps you're right. Let's see how it establishes itself in its new grow bed, and we'll play it by ear next spring.

Your reasoning based on horticultural practices, or design?
 

sorce

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Gotcha! Even though there's potential dieback with the dawn redwood, they are extremely vigorous growers. Another one I have grew about two feet already this year and it's still pushing new growth. I figured with that kind of vigor, a hack back wouldn't hurt it. But perhaps you're right. Let's see how it establishes itself in its new grow bed, and we'll play it by ear next spring.

Your reasoning based on horticultural practices, or design?

Design.

I love the current look....

Just that the trunks need their thicknesses there.

Sorce
 

f1pt4

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Design.

I love the current look....

Just that the trunks need their thicknesses there.

Sorce

Got it. Some decisions will need to be made though. For instance on the left side there are two branches coming off one directly above the other. One of those branches will be developed into a trunk line. Can't keep em both as they're competing with one another and no amount of bending will hide the fact they're on the same plane directly beside each other. Atleast to my novice eyes.

Yes the thickness needs to get there I agree. The problem is on the right, the taper is non existent once you reach the top, and the top is pretty high up. It has the body to become a penjing but I'm thinking of a more stocky build as opposed to thin and tall.
 
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f1pt4

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Just a quick update on this ficus.

It was pruned back in late May. I know they prefer summer pruning, but it grows under lights all winter so I figured it will be fine. Sure enough it responded well.

Last week I took a look at it again. No pruning was done, and I thought it might be a good time to address the scaring from the wire. Took the wire off and instead wrapped it with some horticultural tape left over from some roses. The fusing seems well on it's way. It's not a solid inseparable trunk, but it's getting there. Wont touch the tape till next summer, when I repot it. Might still give it a very light prune before August is over. Other than that, it's a fun little experiment that seems to kinda be working.


bindficus-001.jpg bindficus-002.jpg bindficus-003.jpg bindficus-004.jpg bindficus-005.jpg bindficus-006.jpg
 

sorce

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Nice....

Looks like it'll heal over well.

Consider...
Letting it grow unchecked till this time next year, then hacking it down to each first branch.
I reckon it'll heal, then throw lower buds.

Maybe.

Nice.

Sorce
 

f1pt4

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I purchased this Bilobed Grewia in October 2014. You can say it was my first really cool-looking-with-some-kind-of-potential-learn-how-to-care-for-(sub)tropicals-and-make-rookie-mistakes-tree.

I've had ups and downs with the tree. First and foremost trying to keep the thing alive. Second of all it's a bitch to wire. Lastly what the hell is a Bilobed Grewia?

It just barely made it out alive after its first winter with me. In spring 2015 I repotted it into some better soil. It's health definitely improved. Summer 2015 it grew very well, and continued growing through Winter 2015/16

I gave it a prune in April 2016. It responded well. Gave it another heavier prune today, 3 months later. I was able to apply some wire to it, and open up the branching. starting to see signs of ramification. I rotated the top around. I find there's a void on the back of the tree, however I'm not worried if it continues growing the way it has, that spot will get filled up quickly.

First photo from January 2015. I have earlier photos somewhere. Lost about 50% of foliage at that point. Considered that the front of the tree.


bilobedgrewia-0001.jpg




bilobedgrewia-0003.jpg

August-ish 2015. About 3 months in since being re-potted. Found an old piece of wire wrapped around the roots during repot? It loved the new soil, and sunlight.

bilobedgrewia-0004.jpg

bilobedgrewia-0005.jpg

bilobedgrewia-0008.jpg

bilobedgrewia-0007.jpg
 

f1pt4

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At the end of April 2016, I gave it a pruning. It grew very well over the winter. I have before photos somewhere. This is after the pruning. Tried to use some wires to prop branches up. Used some noob-rendition of a guy wire to pull the left branch in. As far as I was concerned it was pruned nicely ready to go outside.

grewia_04-27-16-001.jpg

Here she is today. 3 months later. Ready for another pruning.

grewia_before-07-29-16-001.jpg

And a few hours later, post-op.

grewia_07-29-16-003.jpg

grewia_07-29-16-002.jpg

kinda looks nice on this side too... but leaning away.

grewia_07-29-16-001.jpg

Opened up some branching.

grewia_07-29-16-004.jpg

Ever heard the sayings. It looks better in real life or the photo doesn't do it justice? Or maybe the photo is just too damn honest and pointing out flaws. But so far I'm pleased how far it's come along, as have I in learning how to take care of it. Both it and I still have a ways to go.
 
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