think before you throw away a tree

[bodhidharma]

Its a typical day in Daylesford. I went out to do some repotting and the sun was shining. Now i am sitting inside and we have sleet outside. I was browsing through some old info i had and came across old photos of a juniper squamata Blue Star that i collected yonks ago. I remember the tree well because it was a hard dig to get it and upon getting it realized i had, maybe, bitten of more than i could chew. it was left in an styrene box for three or four years, and then it got its first styling. I was disappointed with it as material so after its initial styling it was again forgotten about and watered and fed as normal. While watering one day it again caught my eye and then i saw what had to be done. I am sure most of you know what i mean. Just a look from a different direction or after a couple of beers......anyway here it is, would love to knew what you think all.

g juniperbluestaf before.JPG

[bodhidharma]

Damn...i posted in the wrong category again can someone advise me how to change it to exotics progression PLEASE...

[Pup]

I like what you have started with this tree, it will only get better from here.
I have a saying when I have tree's like this, if they stop talking to me I will see if they can talk to some one else.
Then sell them which I think might happen to this one someday.
Pup

[MelaQuin]

What a wonderful way to reduce your collection!!! Give this a year or so to fill out and it will be a stunner... it has so much character now. I think you should bottle those two beers... definitely gave great inspiration...

[kcpoole]

Awesome change and much for the better

If you get sick of it again then send it my way

Ken

[miyagiman]

isn't it amazing what beer goggles do to you, now we see it applies to trees as well.
that is a fantastic transformation bodhi, i have one of these with a worse problem, it's long and stragly with a fantastic trunk and nebari. might post it up and get some suggestions. maybe even grafting might help. can you graft shimpaku onto these? miyagi.

[bodhidharma]

Sorry Dave cant help you there. I do know that you can cut 3/4 through their branches pull them down and they heal in 6 months they also love being pruned hard which at first i was hesitant. You know how they go brown beneath there blue foliage if you prune them hard they clump up really well and that straggly look disappears.And as you would already know you can manipulate their branches really easy.

[miyagiman]

by stragly, i mean the branches are 400 mm long before there is any foliage, i can't get it to bud back on the old wood. any suggestions. miyagi.

[bodhidharma]

Sorry Miyagiman, i did it the hard way. Pruned it back hard and waited. I am sure mine wasnt as bad as yours. But, try this, but i have only done it with deciduous trees, Get a sharp instrument (large pin) and prick the branches in a lot of places than spray with seasol or amino gro and wait and see what happens. This advice was given to me by Tom Cochrane, whom i am sure you know. It worked for me and i have been dying to try it on a problem evergreen tree like yours. If you give it a go keep me posted

[miyagiman]

i'll try that method and keep you posted, thanks for the info. i wonder if that method will also be worth a try on a radiata pine that has the same problem, i've been trying to push growth back on it for 6 years with no luck. was going to try grafting this weekend. miyagi.

[bodhidharma]

I will be really interested in the grafting Miyagi. Grafting is not a huge forte of mine and i need to practise more. I did not end up digging those two Sylvestris pine i will prepare them for next year. My only concern is that somebody else might spot them and see their potential once i prune them of a little bit. Oh well i will leave it to the Bonsai god to decide