Another Mugo Restyle part 2

[Vance Wood]

This is the same tree before and after the point I decided it was lacking and need to be reworked in-order to improve. The end result, as it is today, is to open the tree up and change the planted angle and direction of the tree.

 

[Vance Wood]

It's obvious not too many except Osiyoiung think enough of this transition to say much about it. To be truthful I kind of expected this. From the photographs one could make the argument that the before picture looks better than the after. The point is that the before tree is unbalanced, over grown and without details in branching. The after photo is opened up, an apex of sorts is being developed and the branches and upper trunk are more defined. The finished tree as it is at this point is going to take two years of development and pinching to make a semblance of what I have in mind. In case you had not noticed the bottom right branch seems too large to be in scale with the rest of the tree. I am strongly thinking about it removal a year or two down the road, but for now I may need it to bring the top of the tree down with guy wires.

I am going to try and get a better photo. My problem here is that the computer I am using now does not have the ram to deal with PhotoShop so I cannot tweak the photo the way I would like to.

 

[0soyoung]

It's obvious not too many except Osiyoiung think enough of this transition to say much about it.

Keep going, Vance. I seriously doubt that I am the only one listening.

 

[iant]

I'm watching. I admit I was a little sad to see a nice bright green branch of foliage gone looking from the first photo to the second. I'm sure it will look even better with it filled out after a couple years.
I see what you mean Vance about the size of the first branch on the right relative to the trunk size. It would be nicer if it was just a little thinner.
Very nice tree,
Ian

 

[iant]

I agree removing it and bending down the thinner branch just above it would make a lot of sense. I assume you'd want to restrain the one above that (the 3rd one up on the right currently) until the new lowest branch caught up in size.
Ian

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Now that it's done, no replies preferring the "before" photo are very helpful. Did you try to lower the first and second branches first before removing the left one?

FWIW, I felt the balance was better in the before photo, and the present state has a totally different feeling, with potential to be a good bonsai...hopefully better, but I don't see it yet.

How long had you been contemplating removing it?

 

[jkd2572]

I'm interested, just breathless watching. I'm too quick to cut a branch sometimes but not as brave as your multiple mugo makeover party. Nice work.

 

[JudyB]

Nice what you did with it. Far be it from me to direct you on your work with mugho. What I was inferring, was that if you lean the tree away from the roots that are more developed (if you don't think you'll get any on the other side) you can create a idea that the tree was against the wind, and had to form strong roots on the windward side. But you may not need anything like this, as the development is coming along.

 

[Vance Wood]

I'm watching. I admit I was a little sad to see a nice bright green branch of foliage gone looking from the first photo to the second. I'm sure it will look even better with it filled out after a couple years.
I see what you mean Vance about the size of the first branch on the right relative to the trunk size. It would be nicer if it was just a little thinner.
Very nice tree,
Ian

I know, but as it was as nice as it seemed to be, it was a second rate bonsai and was only going to get worse. Sometimes you get to a point where you realize that the place you started out could only lead you so far then you hit this wall. You either live with your old choices or you decide to move on and make something of the obvious good points you had in the beginning.

 

[Vance Wood]

Nice what you did with it. Far be it from me to direct you on your work with mugho. What I was inferring, was that if you lean the tree away from the roots that are more developed (if you don't think you'll get any on the other side) you can create a idea that the tree was against the wind, and had to form strong roots on the windward side. But you may not need anything like this, as the development is coming along.

I understand what you are saying and thank you for offering another point of view that is worth considering.

 

[Vance Wood]

Now that it's done, no replies preferring the "before" photo are very helpful. Did you try to lower the first and second branches first before removing the left one?

FWIW, I felt the balance was better in the before photo, and the present state has a totally different feeling, with potential to be a good bonsai...hopefully better, but I don't see it yet.

How long had you been contemplating removing it?

I have been contemplating doing this for a couple of years. Most of the branches that have been removed were too thick and did not fit the proportions of the tree, especially that lower first branch that I am pretty sure is going to be removed in a year or so. In the mean time it makes a dandy anchor for pulling down other branches. I think I have mentioned that Mugos have a tendency to do bad things when you remove large branches too quickly.

 

[stacy allen muse]

?????????????

 

[edprocoat]

Vance, personally I would remove the bottom branch on the right and the one directly above it on the right, and jin the lower stub on the left too. I think it would take too long, maybe not even possible, for the branch above the lower one on the right to either catch up or balance out with the third branch on the right side. It is at least half the size, maybe even more like a third the size of the third branch on the right. This would still leave you with a nice top tree that would look very natural like a pine in nature.

ed

 

[Vance Wood]

Vance, personally I would remove the bottom branch on the right and the one directly above it on the right, and jin the lower stub on the left too. I think it would take too long, maybe not even possible, for the branch above the lower one on the right to either catch up or balance out with the third branch on the right side. It is at least half the size, maybe even more like a third the size of the third branch on the right. This would still leave you with a nice top tree that would look very natural like a pine in nature.

ed

I think I mentioned removing the lower right branch, the rest is along the lines I am thinking as well, but with Mugos it is best to take this much branch reduction in stages. If the tree does not handle the process well the reaction can be significant and injurious. As to smaller branches filling in, I wouldn't have started down this road only thinking and maybe hoping this would happen. I have done stuff like this enough to be confident this will happen. So really; the tree is now on a trip down a different and hopefully better road. I am glad you see the same things I am considering but not willing to do this year.

From the beginning, if you go back to the tree from the nursery container, much of my effort was dedicated to establishing a single trunk. This is the reason most people avoid this tree as suitable material. Sometimes it is difficult to see the possibilities in the abundance of branches growing out all over the place. As I have taught for years, concerning Mugo selection: Look for trunks the rest of the tree can be developed later. As my experience has grown I have found this approach often means you may establish a tree with somewhat decent lines and think you have found your bonsai just to discover a few years down the road that the tree does not now work and needs to be reworked.

This of course takes years, but again, so does anything else that can be defined as raw stock. The base line question remains: Do you start a project and spend the time, or do you not start a project and spend the time having nothing in the end? After all is said and done if I spend fifteen years developing a piece of raw material I will be better off in that fifteen years than I would have been having decided that's too much time and work so I'll do and look for something else; fifteen years are fifteen years they are what they are they are yours what you have in the end is your choice.

I thank you for your input Ed, as always it is appreciated.

 

[fore]

I like what you've done with this Vance personally. In the end, it'll look imo like a much older tree. I'm wondering though, that first r. branch is sl. too big, but, couldn't you just keep it short while letting the upper branches grow out a bit thickening the trunk and upper branches to a better proportion? Or will this just not work?

 

[bumblebee]

Vance,

Your pictures of mugos have me planning to get one to work with myself. They look like
fun trees to watch over the years.

Libby

 

[Vance Wood]

I like what you've done with this Vance personally. In the end, it'll look imo like a much older tree. I'm wondering though, that first r. branch is sl. too big, but, couldn't you just keep it short while letting the upper branches grow out a bit thickening the trunk and upper branches to a better proportion? Or will this just not work?

That could be an option but it depends on whether it back buds and that is uncertain at this point. I think that once the top of the tree starts to develop it will cause the trunk below that point to thicken, I have had this happen before. There are several branches above the right facing branch that will be allowed to develop for a while; they will either develop into something worth developing or they will thicken the trunk as now planed. At that point they too will be removed.

 

[Vance Wood]

Vance,

Your pictures of mugos have me planning to get one to work with myself. They look like
fun trees to watch over the years.

Libby

Look for a tree with the best trunk you can find. This means being able to see with your hands. If you need more advise on that issue ask, if I'm available I offer it freely.

 

[Joedes3]

Looks great, I look at your posts as instructions. Do you pull all needles that grow downward?

 

[Vance Wood]

Looks great, I look at your posts as instructions. Do you pull all needles that grow downward?

Yes I do remove downward growing needles but I ususlly clip them off. I'm glad you get something from my posts.