Alpineart's Blog

This trainer is in need of  a good quick  trim after it has flourished over the last 2 weeks  and is well and truly overdue for that much needed trim back into shape to aid ramification  , along  with a plan to layer to lower plaited fusing branches off at the same time , thus creating another unique trunk . I have basically trimmed it back to the first and second leaves depending on the strength of the growth and removed most of the upward growing shoots or branches . This can now grow on it merry way trimming as each new shoot elongates , basically pinch and grow for the rest of the season . With the tree finished i move onto the layering again choosing the open pot method i have employed for some time . I find it easier and quicker to set and maintain rather than the sealed plastic wrap method . The success rate in the pot has been proved superior in my area with deciduous , pines and junipers , i have had limited success on the few natives , but the ease of setting and maintaining means i won’t be using anything else over this method With the layer i have combined both the ring bark and wire tourniquet method just to be sure in case the callous grows over either method . The pot is filled with my bonsai mix with a handful of chopped spagnum moss added to retain moisture . With a good watering and a wire applied to hold both the pot and the apex of the branch being layered Now its off to the bench and on to the next trainer .

Cheers Alpineart

Well most of these are growing well so i thought i had better do some simple training rather than leave them to grow leggy and require way to much cutting back in order to pre train them . I have had to move them from there current position as the onset of the hot weather will see the radiant heat kill them off . In the process of re-housing them into a cooler area i have taken a tough approach to this particular trunk and compressed the branches that will be used for the jin and shari material and at the same time manipulate the foliage into o more desirable position for the future finished tree . The lower branches have been cut back to remove the rough cuts from the chainsaw when collected . The remaining longer branches are very thick so the sash cramps , steel pipes and wire was  used to manipulate the thicker pieces into and closer to main trunk at the same time elevating them to create numerous jins above the rear of the proposed canopy .No need to pad the branches as all will be stripped and carved . This has taken quite a bit of time setting and re-setting the cramps numerous times to compress into position to get the right placement . After which the foliage has been manipulated to form a neater canopy . At this point only a couple of lower branches with foliage have been trimmed back for the purpose of jinning at a later date . I have used basic hook and hold wiring as it is much quicker and very little damage to the new growth is sustained . This will recover from the minimal movement and of course it will be trimmed back in a month or two depending on the time frame as there is much to do around here with almost 50% of the last year being lost due to the bike accident and the leg still requires more surgery . As for a trainer its well on its way . It is now 30% more compact Out with 1 and in with another , i have managed to relocate 4 big trunks however i have only had time to work the one over . i have made a couple of basic trolleys to aid the lifting and moving as I’m unable to carry the weight on my leg . I simply slide them on and off into their new location with the minimum effort , These  others can be studied while trimming and training other more urgent works . With all of the trunks out of harms way i will tackle a couple of deciduous tree’s that require some serious trimming for the next stage of development.

Cheers Alpineart

Like most trainers around here this has undergone another restyle . Sabina’s as Phoenix Grafts like quite good however using aged stock does have its draw- backs They tend to slow down and respond at a slower rate than younger stock . I have a couple that were older material and my advice is to use a Shimpaku of at the least very young vigorous stock . Back to the project . The apex hasn’t fused which in itself is a bonus as the design can and had been altered without any damage . I simply un-wound the to apexes and re-set them in a more desirable position , this allowed me to lower the apex of the foliage for a more compact tree and increase the dead wood jin and shari exposure . After a basic trim it was simply rewired and styled as the carving was not required on this trunk . I have re-set a few branches and will possibly use the lower main branches as future jins after they have done the job as sacrifice branches thickening the live vein into the groove in the dead wood . This will now be slip potted into i bigger pot and returned to the grow benches where i will continually pinch the new growth in order to thicken the foliage ads .

Cheers Alpineart