I planted this cypress group about 7 years ago and just let it grow, and gave it basic pruning to reduce tree heights and removed strong shoots to keep it under control. Today I thought it was time for it to advance beyond a topiary in a bonsai pot.
Before
After
As it stands it is a large tree in the middle surrounded by smaller trees. My plan is to remove 2 of the smaller trees when I repot this year to open up the composition and create a viewing angle. I have not repotted this group before so I imagine the roots will be well tangled.
critiques welcomed.
Last edited by Trent McKenzie on February 15th, 2013, 8:19 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Trent.
"mystery in trees takes you back to your childhood when you explored more than analysed" Dorothy Koreshoff
Hi Trent,
I see plenty of groups like this - A larger tree surrounded by thinner trunks and all evenly spaced. In nature seedlings grow randomly, some close together, others further away but it is quite difficult for us to break out of the 'evenly spaced park/garden' effect. When growing for groups I plant some seedlings close together in a pot these twins and triples then become elements in later groups and help avoid the problem of regular spacing.
In you after photo it looks like you have wired curves in some trunks and left others straight. In good groups I have seen, all the trunks have some echoes of conformity (based on all being subject to the same natural forces) - leaning in one direction, all curved or all straight rather than a combination of different shapes. Try looking for trees growing close together in you environment to see what is natural and what looks good. A twisted tree next to a straight one usually grates on the innate beauty nerves. Smaller trees close to a larger one will usually lean over to reach the light rather than growing up through the existing older tree. Cues like this can help ud create better group plantings.
Rather than just removing a couple of trees I'd be inclined to try rearranging. The roots in this group will be well entangled but it won't hurt them to cut them apart, and even cut all roots off one side af a couple to get trunks close, if you want to rearrange the trunks.
Good luck with this one in future. Look forward to seeing the results
The placement indeed needs refinement as it was done when I was naive and the trunk lines have yet to be worked on (I have no raffia atm). I will definitely try to get some trees closer together and will post the results.
Trent.
"mystery in trees takes you back to your childhood when you explored more than analysed" Dorothy Koreshoff
Hi,
I think you could improve the look greatly by spending on a pot more suited to group plantings. You would be amazed how good your forest could look.
Good Luck and great work,
Michael
You are so right Toohey, please excuse the bad taste in pot choice but this is the largest pot the poor excuse for a nursery had at the time, I'm in a small town so acquiring pots is not the easiest thing.
Trent.
"mystery in trees takes you back to your childhood when you explored more than analysed" Dorothy Koreshoff
