Help me pick a trunk line.

mattspinniken · Sep 21, 2016

There are two options here and I keep going back and forth. It's basically either keep the left side or the right side, maybe even keep both. I drew up a drawing if I was to keep the right side.

It's an American Larch collected. I really like the bark. My guess is that it's about 40 years old which is really old for its size at about 18".

I hope I'm not posting too much. I have a lot of trees that aren't ready for much but contemplation

.

Dav4 · Sep 21, 2016

Any more pictures from different angles? From the pictures shown, I might be inclined to keep the trunk line that moves to the left at the V.

aml1014 · Sep 21, 2016

I'd have to agree, the left trunk has more movement and character overall. Nice tree by the way!

Aaron

Vin · Sep 21, 2016

aml1014 said:
I'd have to agree, the left trunk has more movement and character overall. Nice tree by the way!

Aaron

It's just a thought but I would probably look at removing the branch in red and everything to the right of it. Then bring the tree forward and to the left a bit.

mattspinniken · Sep 21, 2016

Thanks guys, I will try and get some other angles. I like the idea of keeping the left branch instead like you have suggested I keep going back and forth.

Pros for left branch:
-better taper
-more movement

Pros for right branch:
-lower foliage than left will make a more compact tree
-branch options are better.

dirk hoorelbeke · Sep 21, 2016

option right is more rounded, folows the trunk line, has some taper. A more dynamic design. The left option contradicts the initial trunk movement, is more angular, more static. I would go for right. You can style both (extra exercise) and decide after that, or even a year later. Take it slow, decide when you are ready. One day you will look at it and say "where is my saw".

augustine · Sep 21, 2016

I like the leader on the left, good movement and taper. Nice bark!

armetisius · Sep 21, 2016

Lets wait and see the other shots;
there may be a tree in there yet.

mattspinniken · Sep 21, 2016

A couple more pics taken from the opposite side

petegreg · Sep 21, 2016

+1 for the left leader from the first set of pics. The right from these pics... Better taper, movement and more branches to use...

dirk hoorelbeke · Sep 22, 2016

yep, the left one from first pictures. +1

KingJades · Sep 22, 2016

I am in the left club, too!

sorce · Sep 22, 2016

Are you going to chop off that crossing one?

Or is that the first branch with the other cut off?

I'd look into leaving just that crossing one.

IMO...consider you have to plant at a different angle....cuz it comes out too straight for too long.

Oh.... And....

mattspiniken said:
I hope I'm not posting too much.

Please don't ever say anything like that again!

Man! Contemplating trees is what we are supposed to be doing here!

And you post great ones!

Sorce

mattspinniken · Sep 22, 2016

Thanks Pokemon Master, that first crossing branch comes from the right "fork" and would be the first branch if I kept the right side. It would make a nice first branch actually, not sure about making it the leader. After posting here I am back to thinking keep the left side, still really not sure though because it would make a more literati type tree. As they always are, it's one better seen in person.

sorce · Sep 22, 2016

mattspiniken said:
not sure

You have a few of these....

If you cut one off....

It's going to look quite like the others...

Maybe keep em both...
At least for a while...

Maybe just cut that crosser off.

It seems the better taper side has smaller branches...better to bend...
I would consider that too!

Whatever you chose...try not to make "another" Larch.

Make a "new" one!

Sorce

mattspinniken · Sep 22, 2016

Sorce thats a pretty good point, I didnt think of it that way.

mattspinniken · Dec 8, 2016

a traditional possibility using the right trunk line and one that is a little less traditional, jin-ing the left and using the right. Thoughts....?

sorce · Dec 8, 2016

I like the first one.

I liked the second one at first....
But the jin boxes it up too much.

But it's only a virt, and if it doesn't really work out you can still make the first one more or less just leaning it a little.

I 4 2.

Sorce

Leo in N E Illinois · Dec 8, 2016

Nice material. Great to find a relatively small tree with bark and age.

Any branches you do decide to cut off, jin them first. Then later you can decide if the jin works, or doesn't work. A jin can always be removed, it is difficult to add a convincing jin after a branch was cut flush.

Go slow, maybe repot and work the nebari out first. In a few years the character will develop more, and the choice will be obvious. I could be happy either way, the left branch in the first photo, has more movement, but the image is more static. The tight branch creates more movement for the image. In a 2 dimensional photo I would be tempted to keep the left, loose the right. But in person I could see the right making a very nice tree too, after the left was removed.

mattspinniken · Dec 8, 2016

sorce said:
But the jin boxes it up too much.

You might be right, I think I will try a virt jinning the right side instead.

Leo in N E Illinois said:
I would be tempted to keep the left, loose the right

Thanks Leo, this is what I keep going back and forth with. I do think it looks a little different in person and that is why I am leaning toward using the right branch but Im not sure.
I do love the old feeling of this one even before I have done anything to it.

Help me pick a trunk line.

Omono

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