Critique My Carpinus in Development

[Jzack605]

There’s a nursery near me that sells these small, hedged Carpinus betulus. They’re probably the most “bonsai” ready nursery stock I’ve found. I have two, but will share this one I air layered this year as the other has its own set of “issues” I have to decide if it will require drastic pruning and time or also air layering.

the tree I’m posted had its own set of weird stuff out the bat; ugly nebari and long trunk to an awkward canopy.

so I made the decision to air layer where the branches began to create a clump style, or beginnings of one.

 

[Jzack605]

it was successful and I was able to remove it and plant it mid summer.



here it is today. It definitely put on a lot more root growth as if I stick my finger in the soil I feel many small feeder roots.



so I’d love to hear people’s thoughts so far, and what some of you may consider doing.

 

[Jzack605]

This is what I envision being the front for now

 

[Ohmy222]

I am terrible at virtuals but I would kill the branches in red and do a thread graft to create a new apex in green. I really dislike the tall, skinny, straight trunk but the rest of the tree would make a new clump.

 

[Gustavo Martins]

It’s looking good but you had a nice feminine tree already without air-laying. If it were mine I probably had not air-layer it but tried correcting the nebari instead.

 

[Ohmy222]

It’s looking good but you had a nice feminine tree already without air-laying. If it were mine I probably had not air-layer it but tried correcting the nebari instead.

I think the air layer is much better. I will admit to being a sucker for clumps but I think it is a more elegant piece.

 

[River's Edge]

I have to decide if it will require drastic pruning and time or also air layering.

I would have considered another location for airliner. This would have avoided the sling shot formation in the lower portion,
This upper section has promise with branching more in proportion with the trunk and branches nicely located on outside curves.

 

[Jzack605]

Thanks guys for advice thus far.

interesting other layering opportunity I missed.

I will say the original tree bothered me quite a bit and maybe looks better in images. I don’t believe the nebari was fixable.

 

[River's Edge]

interesting other layering opportunity I missed

The opportunity is still there with slight adjustment, after the tree recovers sufficient roots to try again if you wish. The second opportunity has a nice flare at the base, still has branches on the outside of the curves and would create a nice slender informal upright suitable for this species! Set it aside for two years and you should be good to go!

 

[sorce]

I probably would've layered at a thicker point and would still consider it.

This "cinched waist" at the base is worse than reverse taper higher up IMO cuz it doesn't allow the eye any momentum in travel, to get beyond that eye catcher.

I think you have learned enough to make these things good iffin' you find more.

I think once you train your eye to look for excellent pieces to layer, rather than what seems to be, looking for something that resembles a tree but then deciding to layer it, you'll end up with a lot better material fast.

Have mad confidence in your future layers, this one looks nice.

But.......

You admit the roots of the old one weren't salvageable (I agree), but then you started your layer in a pot to give your new roots a similar future.

I would modify your layer process and materials to allow more sideways root growth, and a flatter bottom faster and safer with this.

Radialayer™ a season saver.

Nutters, You may have noticed I almost always jump to recommending airlayers. I don't think I will ever lose my fascination with the process. In attempts to perfect it, I have worked out some tweaks so it is time to share my method. I don't understand haphazardly throwing long...

www.bonsainut.com

This keeps all your keeper roots within the depth of the ringbarking which can be moved with no more further root removal into a right shallow pot.

This way you don't go on growing an excellent top, then have to go back in and risk cutting 80% of the roots off again and damaging the rest trying to saw that old nub flat from the bottom.

Mad Potential!

Cheers.

Sorce

 

[nuttiest]

I like the straight trunk at vertical, maybe you could turn the lowest branches into nebari by pinning underground.

 

[Jzack605]

I should have taken an image post pruning of these tree over the winter. I think it’s actually developing pretty good. It’s very dense now so I have to decide if it should be elevated from the base or use the lower branches.

 

[nuttiest]

post an update!

 

[Jzack605]

Here’s some quick shots. It’s just a green blob right now to be honest

 

[nuttiest]

When do you go for trying to heal the bottom of the trunk that is in the soil? These open wounds under the soil are the death of most of my layers. When I do see them heal, it goes all the way across like a callus on stump, so fascinating.

 

[Jzack605]

I haven’t done anything for that yet. Figure this winter I’ll go in and remove some of the excess. It’s growing pretty vigorously so I’m not too worried.