thinking about a new direction for this JBP

[Jason_mazzy]

looking for some virst of some ideas.

I'm thinking possibly literati if you can virt me a cool design....





my other two options are

1: remove the crown and apex leaving an long look from left to right

or
2: remove the main long branch here on the right and provide more verticxal movement

I tried to virt these with pain but the results were not stellar and unuseable.

If anyone would care to give me advice and some virts I would be very grateful.

 

[iant]

Just an idea while I'm hanging out at a wedding waitin for it to start...
I like the tree but the zig zag gets monotonous toward the apex so I like your idea of removing it. I'd bend the left branch down a lot if you can to balance and grow the right one up to make a crown on right. Remove circle area. Just my first thoughts
Ian

 

[raydomz]

I would think long and hard about making a decision such as making the into a literati. I think this tree simply needs to be studied a bit, there is a very nice solution sitting there that would make it seem like a new tree and would require removing much.

 

[Jason_mazzy]

I plan on thinking for quite a bit first. the new candles are arriving and I am trying to get an idea for the future of this. It has been in training for over 50 years and was started as a seedling. It has some very nice character and movement but I feel it may need a change to be dynamic. Looking for opinions and virts.

 

[october]

What about turning the pot a bit. So the current right side, becomes the front. Maybe not quite that much of a turn though. I suggest this for a few reasons. It looks like there is a wider nebari spread from that angle. Also, turning it would make the sharp turns look less dramatic and a bit smoother. Also, it will bring the branches a bit closer to the trunk.

Rob

 

[Adair M]

It would be helpful to have pictures from all sides.

The picture we see looks "flat", as in no depth. I think there are some back branches, just can't see them. The tree is sparce. We see the trunk all the way from the nebari to the top. There needs to be some frontal foliage to break the view of the trunk, or at least make it more "peek-a-boo".

All the branches appear to have several inches bare from the trunk to the first side branch. You might consider grafting on some interior branching.

The trunk is very curvy, but the branches appear to be relatively straight. A curvy trunked tree should have curvy branches. Again, grafting some side branches will help. Having shorter branches will make the trunk look larger. The flakey bark does make the trunk look old, which is a good thing.

I'm not sure that "literati" is the way to go with this tree... I would keep what's there, and work to shorten the branches and increase the density.

And finally, the right branch is the longest, but not the lowest. To me, it makes the composition look unbalanced. I would work to shorten that right branch considerably.

 

[will0911]

what about if you change the planting angle to the left and reduce branch and apex to the two red arrows...just an idea...still would have to fill in areas but it balances the tree and puts the lowest branch as the longest branch.

 

[Jason_mazzy]

predecandling and plucking pics:

 

[Poink88]

predecandling and plucking pics:

Nice tree.

I am a sucker for deadwood but I think this could be a better front (worth exploring anyway).

The first pic at your original post (I assume is the front) have a "not too pleasing base". JMHO

 

[evmibo]

The lightning bolt trunk looks too manicured for me. If you're comfortable trying an airlayer you could potentially keep the top half of what I've cut off. If not, it's all good. Based on your additional photos it'd probably look nicer to rotate my virt (your original photo) ~180 degrees and wire the branches i've left closer to the trunk eventually. Also, there's potential here to keep ~6-8" of the vertical trunk on and carve it, creating a measure of struggle and perseverance, could look neat.

Sorry for the so so virt

 

[edprocoat]

I am certainly no pine expert but I really love this tree. The only change I would consider making is to shorten the branch in the first pic that protrudes to the right, I would consider cutting it of right at the place where it branches into a "Y" keeping both small branches losing the one at the rear right after the branch that extends upwards. I think it would look more balanced that way.

Like this.

likethis by edsnapshot, on Flickr
ed

 

[moyogijohn]

new direction jbp

I like this pine.. Why would you want to chop it that way ???? my opion,, shorten the right low branch and maybe some of the apex... Pinch candles and maybe get back budding closer to the trunk... post what you do please... good luck john

 

[Eric Group]

I would agree with the last two posters! Shorten the lower right branch, maybe shorten the apex a bit... That is all the major chopping I would recommend here! (And you prolly want t wait until it cools down some so the sap isn't running so much when you cut him)

I think if you repot it with a little more of a lean to the left and forward after you chop that right branch, it would add some better balance to the tree.

Shortening the apex would make it look a little more masculine and I think you can wire it into something of a dome up top there to really refine the image and make it look a little more natural and "finished". Once the new growth comes in, it should look a lot better, and the trimming might promote some back buds a little closer to the trunk which wouldn't hurt either!

Regardless, that is a good looking tree!

 

[evmibo]

Why would you want to chop it that way ????

Because I think it looks better? He asked for virts, doesn't mean he has to choose mine

 

[D'Angelo]

The movement in this tree is amazing!!...Love it!!

 

[mcpesq817]

Because I think it looks better? He asked for virts, doesn't mean he has to choose mine

I sorta agree with evmibo's virt for the same reasons. Tough decision though to chop and regrow the apex after all that time developing the top half of the tree.

Either that, or rotate it left or right like in post #8 to avoid the two-dimensional zig zag look.

 

[Poink88]

So many ways this tree can go...even a nice cascade.

 

[wireme]

How about trying some aggressive bending without removal of any foliage? The upper apex could perhaps come down and become a front branch. Some very exaggerated movement with the branches could bring the foliage closer to the trunk and match with the trunk movement better as well.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I would not cut any branches, not until after you have spent a few years trying to grow more ramification and foliage. The tree simply does not have enough foliage.

I would pull down branches a bit, both right and left. Make nice arcs, branches leave trunk rising some, then arc or bend down, to show the effect of the weight of snow and the soon to be dense foliage. Don't eliminate movement, put more movement into the branches.

Develop foliage, finer branching, more 2nd and 3rd and 4th degree branching. Make the foliage match the beautiful age of the trunk. Spend upwards of 5 years doing this. If after a number of years you still are not happy, then consider changing it to literati. But I see a more full, dense tree, with well developed foliage as the better future for this tree.

Nice tree, I would be quite happy having to work on this one.

 

[Jason_mazzy]

I have been studying this tree this morning and I believe I have some solutions for the parts that made me least impressed. Firstly the short branch directly above the long right branch bothered me because of the redundency involved. My solution is going to be to pull it down and into the front to fill in some of the too open space of the trunk. I will then pull the other Y fork off the longer right branch forward to fill space that will be missing from moving the first branch. Lastly I will pull the apex down slightly to increase the balance.

I am hoping these smaller adjustments in unison will bring strength and balance while I build up more density.