Joe Dupre'
Omono
I just re-styled a long and leggy boxwood into a literati. The new front has 10 inches of prominent deadwood displayed. What color is common for that deadwood — white (via lime sulphur) or black ( I use a charcoal solution )?
I like the natural color appearance. Not black. Not white. Not grey. I think the coloration creates to much of a contrast and can look forced. I’d use a preservative over the natural deadwood. Applied probably twice a year. Immediately after application the preservative will darken the wood, but after some sun an a few weeks it returns to a more natural look....just a little darkened. Over time the natural color displays quite nicely. I think the tree character would come through better this way....look older and weathered...more pleasing to the eye and camera.....much less artificial. I really like that initial deadwood area. Fabulous rugged character. My thoughts.
I was thinking of Tree Gum. A product offered by Kaizen Bonsai. I haven’t used the Tree Gum yet...but want to. I have used the Deadwood Preserver. I like it. It darkened slightly in application but fades with weather. There’s a slight gloss at first but that fades away also. I’m sure there are other suited products available too.I was leaning towards a more natural, lighter color also. I really don't like the over-done snow white deadwood on so many junipers. What "preservative" are you referring to? Lime sulphur? I thought of using maybe a watered down mixture of lime sulphur to tone down the normal white color it gives.
That's one of those "wait and see" kind of things. I cut off as much as I left, so I'll monitor it this spring to see what new growth it gives me.Just Curious.....Were you thinking of any additional chopping up higher in your vision of the tree's future?
There is NO reason to use ANY kind of bleaching/preservative on boxwood. It is extremely durable and dense. It will rot, but not easily. Bleached white is not a good look for it anyway. This tree has never had any treatment of its deadwood, other than a light scrub with a nylon brush to keep the algae off of it.Forgot the "if it doesn't have a picture, it didn't happen" rule. Excuse the mildew on the siding. This happens every 3-4 months is South Louisiana.
I cut off a 1" and a 1 1/4" branch that wasn't going to improve the design. I carved them into a "healed over" branch collar.
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This isn't necessarily for your boxwood but just a general comment. I put a small dab of black water color/acrylic paint straight from the tube onto a paint brush and mix it into the lime sulfur. This gives the deadwood a greyer hue and not that stark white appearance. I've never watered down the lime sulfur but wonder about that reducing its preserving characteristics so I wouldn't do it personally.I was leaning towards a more natural, lighter color also. I really don't like the over-done snow white deadwood on so many junipers. What "preservative" are you referring to? Lime sulphur? I thought of using maybe a watered down mixture of lime sulphur to tone down the normal white color it gives.