Re-wiring a Radiata.

[Jow]

Today i got bored so decided to re-wire a radiata that had been un-wired last year and was getting out of shape.

This tree was dug from an embankment in a pine forest where it had been run over with machinery and also had spent its life struggling through long grass. It had developed a really interesting trunk line. Two years after collecting i did some heavy bending and bent the upper trunk 180 degrees to bring the foliage back on top of itself forming a compact crown. I also gave it its first wiring. This last winter i un wired it and cut a lot of growth from the apex. it will need a couple more years to grow to complete the rounded looking crown that i am after.

Today it was in need of a re wire to get it back to a neat outline.

before.jpg

The tree before the work.

after.jpg

And after a couple of hours wiring.

Currently the bottom branch needs to get a little more dense but otherwise it is well on the way.

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi Jow,

A very interesting radiata pine. It certainly has a unique shape.

Would you be able to give photos from the other sides?

Thank you and best regards,

Viet.

[Pup]

This is going to be a nice tree keep up the good work.
I too would like to see from the other angles. It has a very interesting curve. Pup

[aaron_tas]

nice job jow

did you get this one as a straight seedling

very interesting line, it compliments the form nicely.

[PeterW]

Interesting tree Jow. Where does that cascading branch originate from, its hard to tell from the picture?
Peter

[Jow]

The cascade branch originates from up near the crown.

I will try to get some more pics of the tree and post them this arvo..... see how we go....

[Jow]

As promised here are a couple more pics, even if they are a little late.

this first one is of the back side. It would make a nice front but i think i still like the side shown in the first post a little more... who knows what will happen in the future though. It is still early on in its life as a bonsai.

back.jpg

If you look closely you can see the beginnings of the bark beginning to crackle.

This next pic is from the top. I tried to draw a line that shows how the trunk moves as the pic was a little hard to see. the first bend is natural (or at least was like that when i found it) and the second one towards the left of the pic is one i put in with the drilling method i mentioned in Viets post about the 10 year old JBP.

top.jpg

This section of the trunk was pretty much dead straight when i dug it.


I also dug up a couple of photos that show the tree before its first styling.

pinus-radiata.jpg

The above photo show it after a year or so recovery after being dug. I had just applied some wire (messily) to the branches i was going to use.
The below pic shows the cascade branch being brought down into position. The section with the tape on it is where the heart wood had been drilled out and the sharp bend was to be done. The tape was an easy way to provide support for the wood much like raffia. One rap sticky side out followed by several layers sticky side in makes for a fast job that doesnt leave sticky residue on the trunk.

plan.jpg

Anyway i hope that this helps you to further understand how the tree is made up.

[anttal63]

looking good jow. nice post with some great tips there. thanks for sharing. i look forward to this ones future.

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi Jow,

Seeing the earlier photos, I appreciate the creativities applied to this tree. I must say, I would not be able to do such good job.

Even from the beginning, the main trunk looks of a fair size, did you have to carved/cut the trunk of a little? I could not see how
in a few short years, it can be in position without any wires?

Would you be able to explain the process a bit more please?

I think I a few more years the bark will be to age, it will look even better then.

Regards,

Viet.

[Jow]

I used the drill technique on this tree.... the bend was set within a year an i only had to use a small twitch to keep it bent. Now two years after the bend i don't have a twitch on it at all. I outlined the drill method in the post about your 10 year old pine.

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi Jow,

Thanks. I can see that now