A tree that fits in your hand

[davetree]

This is my Spirea - the leaves have dropped. Does this look like a tree ? I look at it all the time and can't even tell anymore. If it doesn't look good, I will cut it back ruthlessly this spring and start the branching again. It is done in a kind of naturalistic style I guess, but I just went with what the tree gave me. Let me know your opinions, please.

 

[R_F]

I would say this does look like a tree, but it is more of a natural oak style. Not my favorite style at all, but some like it. If it were mine I would cut it back and re-design it solely based on my preference against this style. But if you like it...keep it.

 

[noissee]

I think it does look like a natural oak styled tree, and I really like this style. I would keep it the way it is. If you want to work on something, then work on the nebari.

 

[Redwing]

I think it is very nice, and very tree-like. Perhaps your dissatisfaction comes from the thumb-and-forefinger open space created by two right-side branches? Simply pruning off and refashioning the innermost of these two so that it moves along with the outer might resolve that concern.

-rw

 

[catfish chapstick]

i enjoy this tree. looks natural imo.

 

[davetree]

Good points, all. Root work next spring by grafting cuttings to the base. Redwing, you are right, thanks for pointing that out. I will rework the right hand branch this spring as well. Thanks for the good advice.

 

[plant_dr]

Yes, it looks like a tree...it looks like this one(except more refined). http://www.redbubble.com/people/ranylutz/art/456939-10-oak-in-winter

 

[cquinn]

Grow the middle branch out to define an apex, and keep everything else trimmed back to give your new apex some strength to grow out. I don't believe Spirea are apicably dominant. It'll look like a nice broom style which is very Japanese and not just natural style whatever that is.

 

[Smoke]

This is a very nice spreading oak type plant. I wouldn't do anything to change the design of what you have going. I definately wouldn't grow a leader and wouldn't try to make the tree do something that it obviously likes doing.

Discussion is giving me a headache...I need an aspirin

 

[Tachigi]

DT, I like it very much. The pot color with the tree I could live with out, but I'm sure its a training pot...right?

My 2cents is that I think the secondary branching needs to be pruned back a to develop some more refined ramification. Unlike Al I would let the center trunk/leader run on a bit to fatten it up. For me visually the center looks weak and the outer branches overwhelm it. By thickening this up it will crate a spine/central weight so to speak for your image.

Great job so far, thanks for sharing

 

[davetree]

Thanks Tom, and you are right, the leader is a bit weak. The pot is really not that bad ! It is darker than the photo reveals and was chosen to complement the fall color.

 

[treebeard55]

It looks like a tree to me, too; but there's also something that says "shrub" IMO.

I would suggest either:
1) develop a distinguishable leader--not overwhelmingly dominant, but first-among-equals sort of thing; or,
2) accentuate the wandering-all-over-the-sky movement of the branches, to strengthen the oak impression.