Large broom Hawthorn

[JudyB]

This is my new this year Hawthorn. With some great advice and a detailed pdf in hand from BVF (thanks!!!) I was able to start this tree back to good form. It went through a bad insect infestation, and is healthy again now, so I am working on replacing the branching that was lost. First up a pic of the tree when it was in it's prime...and pics of as I got it. Following in other posts, lots of pics of the process, and at the end, the outcome of the work.

 

[JudyB]

starting the wrap, and protecting the shoots and buds

 

[JudyB]

more photos of the process.

 

[JudyB]

And this is the result, pretty decent considering how large the space was. Did hear a crack on the upright branch, hope it will not be a problem. Some smaller cracks on other branches, but nothing too scary. Will protect this one well this winter.
Thanks for looking, enjoy.

 

[Smoke]

Awesome change....for the good. What a shame to lose that first look. I am sure you can get it back in a few more years.

 

[fourteener]

I consider this a good point in the journey of bonsai. To take something through its trouble and come out the other side. I have a couple of trees that I really appreciate because at some time I thought they were goners.

Good job with the rehab, it's looking good.

 

[MACH5]

Great work Judy! Definitely on its way once again! Absolutely beautiful tree in the original photo. A shame but looks like you're bringing it back to it's old glory. Just a quick note, I'd cut back to a shorter silhouette than what's intended as your building your structure.

 

[Smoke]

Great work Judy! Definitely on its way once again! Absolutely beautiful tree in the original photo. A shame but looks like you're bringing it back to it's old glory. Just a quick note, I'd cut back to a shorter silhouette than what's intended as your building your structure.

plus one...

 

[dkraft81]

Judy, thanks for sharing. Its a bummer about the pest problem earlier this year, but the work you have done has set it on a path to a great looking tree.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Great job, Judy. Looks like it worked out pretty well. It looks like the fork on the primary branch split further out than I originally thought, but the effect is still very good.

Eventually, I'd like to see the upright branch moved more to the right. Use a guy-wire to the fork in the primary branch and crank it a little each week or two until it's about 15 degrees to the right.

On using Parafilm, stretch it out just a little more before you wrap it on the branch, then do 2-3 courses. Hopefully you found it easier to work with than raffia. it won't last as long, but should stay intact long enough to allow the cracks to callus over. If not, just apply another course when you see it start to split.

 

[JudyB]

Yes -I agree to bring the whole canopy in next spring. Just to be clear, the tree was not under my care when it had it's problem, I got it after it had been rehabbed back to health. It's now up to me to bring it's back to what it can be again. The only way I could get ahold of a tree like this is that it did have a dieback, so I guess in a way it was lucky for me! It's a big tree, it's a 5" base, and 32"tall by 44 (right now..) wide. I think it can be as good as it was with time.

I think I will have much fun with this guy.

 

[JudyB]

Great job, Judy. Looks like it worked out pretty well. It looks like the fork on the primary branch split further out than I originally thought, but the effect is still very good.

Eventually, I'd like to see the upright branch moved more to the right. Use a guy-wire to the fork in the primary branch and crank it a little each week or two until it's about 15 degrees to the right.

On using Parafilm, stretch it out just a little more before you wrap it on the branch, then do 2-3 courses. Hopefully you found it easier to work with than raffia. it won't last as long, but should stay intact long enough to allow the cracks to callus over. If not, just apply another course when you see it start to split.

I think that the one of the two small shoots, and the small bud that you see could be the longer term solution, from that fork. The upright branch was the one that gave me the big cracking sound, so I stopped on it for now. I have a guy wire down to a second screw for now, I may have to find another angle. I did like the parafilm, I realize now that I could've stretched it better.

Thanks so much for the guidance on this tree, it's so nice to get great advice, and help!

 

[coh]

Nice work! It was a spectacular tree before the infestation (do you know what kind of insect caused the devastation?), but it looks good now as well. In some ways I prefer the more open, less stylized form, even though it's only the beginning. What are your future plans, are you going to try to create something like the original form or something a little more informal with a more open canopy?

Chris

 

[JudyB]

Thanks Chris, apparently it was an unchecked infestation of aphids. Don Blackmond rescued it and brought it back to health. It seemed a bit "perfect" to me before, but it sure was amazing wasn't it. I will be a bit looser with it, we will see what the tree gives me to work with.

 

[Cadillactaste]

starting the wrap, and protecting the shoots and buds

Please...explain what ones reasoning is to wrap the branch like that? I realize there was an infestation...was this to protect to allow it to heal...or to protect it for winter on weak areas from the infestation?

I had no idea that an infestation could be so damaging to a tree...that one actually lost branches from insects. I am glad that the tree was spared a total loss...

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Wrapping the branch, with raffia (or Parafilm in this case) provides some protection against breakage when bending a larger branch.

 

[october]

This is outstanding work. It is great when a tree can be restored to an image that, in time, will resemble the image at the tree's best. This is a really nice tree.

Rob

 

[Cadillactaste]

Wrapping the branch, with raffia (or Parafilm in this case) provides some protection against breakage when bending a larger branch.

(Face palm) I knew that one could use raffia on larger branches when bending...I hadn't known of the parafilm. With mention of the infestation...I assumed it was due to that. Thanks for explaining!

 

[Zach Smith]

And this is the result, pretty decent considering how large the space was. Did hear a crack on the upright branch, hope it will not be a problem. Some smaller cracks on other branches, but nothing too scary. Will protect this one well this winter.
Thanks for looking, enjoy.

Nice work, Judy. I love hawthorns. They can take a lot of abuse and recover. You're well on your way to bringing this one back.

Zach

 

[JudyB]

Thank you Zach. I love this tree, I am anxious to get the canopy cut back this winter. I hope it grows strongly next year, I will feed it heavily, and ignore leaf size. Do you have any hawthorn specific tips that you could pass on?