AusBonsai

On Australia day just gone I had to celebrate in some way other than the traditional BBQ.
Our Eldest son is not due home till March.
So the trees needed to be pruned as apposed to pinched. So all the natives that needed it went to the barber for a haircut.
All of our trees get pinch pruned to keep them tidy.
This constant state of retarding growth puts pressure on them. They need to have a holiday.
What better way than to let them have at least one growing season of complete growth unfettered. That way trees have at least one season to recoup after working hard.
Most trees we see that are in exhibitions, are the result of at least 12 months work. Then when they have been in the exhibition.
They are then put out to graze much like a racehorse having a spell. Then after that period of time we have to start to get them back into order.
We have an exhibition in May so I am preparing trees now and have been for the last 3 months. These ones I am posting have been pruned, ready for refinement work to start. Some Just coz they needed it. Here they are hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Pup

[Here are some more from the same session.

Pup, can you get branch die back if you pinch back too far? I can see that you have been busy with these.

Jon

Jon Chown wrote:Pup, can you get branch die back if you pinch back too far? I can see that you have been busy with these.

Jon

Yes it is possible. I always try to make sure I do not go back past green growth on recalcitrant species.
The rhaphiophylla will grow on very old wood as you can see.
Linophylla shoot back well, but Linarifolia is one to watch so I never go past live growth.
This one is prone to die back on inside growth. It is one of those that you have to be at all the time.
It still needs to have it head as you can see I let this one flower this time. Then much as with Bottle brush cut back past flowers. I do watch also for the direction of a leaf so as to direct growth. Pup

not bad hair cutting there; would i give you a job? no. but ya trees are looking great!

Pup wrote:[Here are some more from the same session.

P1020272.JPG

P1020275.JPG

Oh with talk like that, I might have to haggle

You have some really lovely trees and the haircuts are looking good. It is always rewarding when you bring a shaggy unkempt tree back to benchability. I tend to keep my shorter at this time of year so the water draw is a bit less and they can survive heat days easier.

Thank you Pup for your detailed reply - wouldn't you know it but the only Melaleuca that I have would appear to be linarifolia and I have noted that on several occasions when I have tried to push the growth back and gone past green the branch has subsequently died. Still learning.....

Jon

Hi All
Thanks Pup for the info on how you treat your melas. They look good (even if I would like to see some branches not quite so horizontal - just me!)

Intereesting comments from both you and Jon on M. Linariifolia. I have only one tree and it shoots back from old wood rather like M. rhaph. I've cut it back severely once and new growth came from many branches below the last green leaf (which had been removed) as well as from the trunk, which is about 30 mm diameter at pont where new growth came out. I will pay more attention and do some experimenting to see if I get something different.

Has anyone else any experience with this species (Mela lin.)?

Cheers
Kunzea

Great work Pup! I always enjoy seeing your work.

Kunzea wrote:Has anyone else any experience with this species (Mela lin.)?

Yes Kunzea, you can see my progression here: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=605&p=5239#p5239

Regards,
Steven