Pseudocydonia, Chinese Quince

Brian Van Fleet said:

I couldn't find a thread on this one, so here is a new one.

I bought this Chinese Quince in 2006 on eBay, from Sebastapol CA (first photo). It went in the ground in 2007, and stayed there 8 years, unattended, with the exception of several trunk chops. I wish I would have chopped the second section much shorter, and developed a more 3-dimensional trunk line. This one is rather flat.

It will likely be chopped back to midway up the second trunk section to improve taper, movement, and 3-dimensionality...probably mid-summer if the root ball is solid enough. The back branch peeking out could make an interesting 3rd trunk section (blue line). Another option is to chop at the red line, but the chop may be difficult to transition in my lifetime. Thoughts? I should be able to get it back in the ground next spring.

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JudyB said:

Do you have any wound healing tips that you can pass along?

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Brian Van Fleet said:

Since we've been talking about Chinese Quince, here is an update on this one. Unwired and pruned back the other night. I hadn't been paying attention to this one lately and I guess it's been facing backwards on the bench all year, so I only have before shots of the back. Once it was pruned back, I thought the planting angle looked funny from this side. Oops. Too many trees.
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It is hard to see in leaf, but the branch structure is actually developing taper & movement. Might turn out to be something one day.

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Cadillactaste said:

Sweet looking tree you have there.

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Brian Van Fleet said:

Taking bets on your next obsession...
I actually worked on this one the other day. They grow straight and prefer to not produce multiple buds from each branch, so developing an appreciable branch structure takes a lot of work, I'm learning. This is the 3rd round of wiring for this year. I prune, wire in some wiggle, let it grow, rinse and repeat. With any luck, I'll get a 4th round this year. The results won't be visible until its leafless in the winter. It's really a fun species.
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Brian Van Fleet said:

I couldn't find a thread on this one, so here is a new one.

I bought this Chinese Quince in 2006 on eBay, from Sebastapol CA (first photo). It went in the ground in 2007, and stayed there 8 years, unattended, with the exception of several trunk chops. I wish I would have chopped the second section much shorter, and developed a more 3-dimensional trunk line. This one is rather flat.

It will likely be chopped back to midway up the second trunk section to improve taper, movement, and 3-dimensionality...probably mid-summer if the root ball is solid enough. The back branch peeking out could make an interesting 3rd trunk section (blue line). Another option is to chop at the red line, but the chop may be difficult to transition in my lifetime. Thoughts? I should be able to get it back in the ground next spring.

Click to expand...

twisted trees said:

I've watched Bill Valavanis develop trunks of quince quickly by letting them grow unrestricted all season then cut back the next spring. It take about 5 years to make a presentable tree. You look to be about 2 seasons into it. Do you restrict growth?

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Brian Van Fleet said:

It seems developing trunks can be done in a few years of unrestricted growth in the ground, but scars take forever to heal, so chops must be done strategically. Branches loathe to ramify, but they’re vigorous growers (rose family); so if I let it grow all season, branches will be arrow-straight with no taper. Therefore, I have to restrict growth in order to develop decent branches with ramification, movement, and taper. This is the 3rd growing season out of the ground developing branches.

Click to expand...

Brian Van Fleet said:

I couldn't find a thread on this one, so here is a new one.

I bought this Chinese Quince in 2006 on eBay, from Sebastapol CA (first photo). It went in the ground in 2007, and stayed there 8 years, unattended, with the exception of several trunk chops. I wish I would have chopped the second section much shorter, and developed a more 3-dimensional trunk line. This one is rather flat.

It will likely be chopped back to midway up the second trunk section to improve taper, movement, and 3-dimensionality...probably mid-summer if the root ball is solid enough. The back branch peeking out could make an interesting 3rd trunk section (blue line). Another option is to chop at the red line, but the chop may be difficult to transition in my lifetime. Thoughts? I should be able to get it back in the ground next spring.

Click to expand...