Pieris Species Styling Advice

[Elias]

Hi All,

Here is a Pieris I saved from a landscaping job, not sure one the exact variety Pieris japonica I think. Anyways I treat it like an azalea and it has responded well, althought it did get a little sunburnt on that hot Melbourne week.

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I have really struggled to with this tree, as far as styling........I guess my goal was to try to build a decent canopy and go from there.... At times I think its too tall.
Anyways I would like to hear some peoples opinions regarding size and styling for this tree.

Cheers,
Elias
PS: I will post pics when in flower, it should be a nice display as it is covered with flower buds all over at the moment

[LLK]

Lucky you, that's a very nice tree to start with, and Melbourne has the right climate for it too.
First: they back bud very well and you can cut them back quite severely after flowering. In fact, you have to, or you get a lot of long and lanky new shoots. Apart from that, treat it like an azalea. If I hadn't forgotten my camera in a friend's car, I'd send you a photo of mine.
Maybe tomorrow.

Lisa

P.S. - Just found a pic that I took in the Spring of 2007. It has grown quite a bit since then.

[anttal63]

nice find elias, i like it alot. look forward to seeing it in real life one day soon.

[Elias]

Hi Lisa, thanks for the reply, that is a nice display of flowers there on your tree, looks pretty I will look forward to seeing how your tree has developed over the last couple years.

The Pieris develops a really nice trunk, I tried counting the rings when I did the trunk chop I counted well over 30 rings, not sure if that is right.....
Also the one I have has some natural deadwood exposed from the flaky bark IMG 231(top left of trunk) this could be something worth exploring in future, (I will try to post better pics of the deadwood for assessment).

Ant I'd be awesome if you could have a look at this tree, I'm at the nursery 7 days a week,although Mondays by appointment

Elias

[kcpoole]

NIce flowers
I had one but it Went to the other world due to mainly the roots being munched on by curl grub I think posting.php?mode=reply&f=104&t=985#"

The secret is with these to have nice wide foliage pads with lots of negative space for the flowers to for in.

Ken

[Elias]

It has finally started blooming,and it has plenty more to go. I believe the soil isn't acidic enough, but I have fed it osmocote for acid loving plants, and followed it up with bloom booster. This is the first time I've let it flower after much recuperation.

[anttal63]

cool!!!

[Elias]

Hi All,

I was putting my trees away and thought I don't think the flowers will get better, also looking at the pic made me notice I shoulda clean it up here and there , also I gotta adjust some of the branches

[kcpoole]

Nice flower display

Are you planning on developing any branching in the big wide open space on the RHS?

That long bare trunk I don't like. I would ( if mine) use some of the those back buds you have to try to grow something there to fill the empty spaces

Ken

[Jordy]

i agree with ken there, i'm not a huge fan of the long trunk.
but hey, it's not my tree

[Elias]

Thanks Ken,

I've been waiting for a bud on that side too, but unlikely most of that side is dead, I noticed it when I repotted some of the bark started coming away although I will definitely use the buds around the area, I've been contemplating on exposing some more of the deadwood...

[anttal63]

coming along nicely el. once that flower finishes cut the tops back hard to send the energy down and develope your new buds and lower branches. definately expose the dead wood careful about starting any new dead wood now though.