Chinese Juniper styling / wiring

[ACrawl]

Hey everyone. Well, this is my first time wiring more than two branches at a time on a tree lol. I’m fact, it’s only my third time applying wire. Anyway,
Just wondering what your thoughts might be. See anything other than a slightly informal upright? Or any advice for eventually making this a beautiful informal upright? Before and after below.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Oh yes I see more than formal upright.
With the right size wire and maybe some raffia, you would be able to fold and bend the trunk into anything you want.

You did a good job of wiring the branches and not removing too much! I would bend them a little lower so they droop a little right from the trunk.

Using a heavier gauge wire over the smaller gauge could be difficult to manage in the sense that you cant uncoil them without clipping, but I do recommend playing around a little and see if you can get that trunk into some movement.

On the bottom of the trunk that might be difficult, higher up it should still be very flexible. You can think about using the planting angle in the future to get the viewer to think there's movement down low on the parts that are too stiff to bend.

 

[ACrawl]

Yep, the top is still flexible. Thanks for the tips! Greatly appreciated.

 

[leatherback]

Yep, the top is still flexible. Thanks for the tips! Greatly appreciated.

I am pretty sure the whole trunk is still pretty flexible.

To get you inspired:

 

[ACrawl]

I am pretty sure the whole trunk is still pretty flexible.

To get you inspired:

Holy smokes!

 

[Potawatomi13]

Not so sure drastic hard bending the whole trunk is viable without killing the cambium underneath. Personal suggestion is to let tree grow one season to insure good health and strength then cut back to strong low/bottom branch to start trunk movement and this one will be much easier to bend. Finding root crown will also allow to tilt trunk so base is not straight up. Always remember do not wire and bend during active growth time on a juniper. The bark will slip and kill the cambium underneath. I understand major cut back is drastic but tree is just nursery stock and not a valuable Yamadori. Best of the New Year to you .

 

[leatherback]

Not so sure drastic hard bending the whole trunk is viable without killing the cambium underneath.

Ye of little faith, make way for those showing it is not a problem. 3 year update.

 

[bwaynef]

Not so sure drastic hard bending the whole trunk is viable without killing the cambium underneath.

Thread 'Slipping the bark on Junipers'

May 29, 2023

I decided this year to tackle a few things. So far I'm 6/7 on JBP grafts (unless its 7/8). I've also airlayered before leafing out to positive results on a Shishigashira maple because I'd heard there are 2 times to airlayer but had only ever done it after the leaves hardened off. Now I'd really like to see if there's anything to this "slipping the bark" thing.

I've heard for years that working junipers during the growing season is dangerous because it risks "slipping the bark" because there's so much liquid moving in the vascular system of the tree that the bark is sort of just...

• bwaynef
• Replies: 26
• Forum: General Discussion

Now'd be the IDEAL time to do heavy bending on junipers.

 

[ACrawl]

I appreciate all of the insight, caution, and wisdom here. I feel adventurous… I went for something, kind of a corkscrew. I think that was about all the 3mm wire was prepared to hold lol. If I had 5mm (which I just ordered), I might have gone for a cascade. This is fun!

 

[Potawatomi13]