A cedar group

[craigw60]

This green atlas cedar group is the latest addition to my collection. The main tree is just short of 1m in height. I am fairly certain the group was put together some time in the mid to late eighties.
I have done nothing to the trees except feed them, but intend to start working them in the next few weeks. I think the branch structure is way too complex and many branches need to be removed or shortened and the whole composition should be opened up so the trunks are more apparent . I really like the way the trees have been set and also the small number of trees is great, the bark is beginning to crack on some of the trunks which takes a long time with cedar.
I think this group has the potential to be very beautiful but needs simplicity.
Any thoughts would be great.
Craigw

[Mojo Moyogi]

Hi Craig,
There is a nice group in there, a lot of potential, I'd love to see it in person. I agreee some branch simplification so you have views of the trunks through the foliage planes is a must, closing the gap between the far left trunk and the primary, perhaps shortening the tree on the left to help it come back into the outline of the group. The foliage seems to be pretty well matched between the trees, the previous owner has taken a fair bit of care with selection and placement of the 5 trees, they seem to relate to each other well.


Cheers,
Mojo

[anttal63]

Hi Craig,
There is a nice group in there, a lot of potential, I'd love to see it in person. I agreee some branch simplification so you have views of the trunks through the foliage planes is a must, closing the gap between the far left trunk and the primary, perhaps shortening the tree on the left to help it come back into the outline of the group. The foliage seems to be pretty well matched between the trees, the previous owner has taken a fair bit of care with selection and placement of the 5 trees, they seem to relate to each other well.


Cheers,
Mojo

Dido ! Yep very nice Craig, looks like a fun group to play with.

[kcpoole]

Lovely trees and the Biggest one is to die for

I would like to see a slight gap between the biggest tree and the one behind. A very slight tilt to one of them so the gap opens a little. A tapering gap like the one on the left tree might work?

ken

[Craig]

Nice addition Craig, interesting group, 4 trees move one way and 1 tree moves the other, looking forward to see what changes you make cheers

[Jarrod]

Nice group Craig! I think rotating the group in the pot clockwise web viewed from above would open up the space between the primary tree and the tree behind it. The left tree needs a slight angle change to bring it more in line, yet still opposing to give interest, with the main group.

I may have to mke the trip up there to have a gander at this!

[craigw60]

Being green cedar they would have been seed raised so yes the foliage is very well matched.
I intend to pull the small tree on the left back into the group which is going to require some branch removal on the main tree. The group needs to be slightly rotated which will make the back tree more obvious in the composition. Because the trunks are so thin the branches need to be much shorter so as to make the trunks look more powerful. I will proceed with caution as being conifers there is no going back once the chopping starts
Once I start wiring them then thats it I will be wiring them for ever.
Craigw

[drlach]

Nice looking group to work with - can't wait to see how it turns out for you!

[craigw60]

Thanks Driach, will post some pics when I have started working on it
Craigw

[alpineart]

Hi Craigw , a very nice cedar group .No doubt you will work wonders on it . When you say it green ,is that from being grown in the shade or is that its natural colour .I have had a couple of green "Atlas cedars" many years ago , but over time they turned to the blue hue as all my other Atlas Cedars . Are these Atlas or Lebiana .

Cheers Alpineart

[craigw60]

Hi Alpine, generally seed raised atlas cedar are referred to as green as opposed to the blue ones which are grafted, having said that as you will know all seed raised stock throws up lots of variations.
Craigw

[alpineart]

Hi Craigw , yes i have a lot of Atlas cedars , i would like to know if anyone out there can keep them actually green in colour .I can in the ground and under shade sails but the moment you place them in sun or semi shade for as little as a couple of hours per day they take on that blue hue , not as apparent as a Doedara but a hue all the same . Maybe i will have to get my hands on some Cedrus Lebiana .

I have a few deodara from the same seed tree of which i got 2 green , 3 blue and a golden form , Shibui said the possible cross pollination from other tree's has probably been responsible for the 3 colours . Either way , you have a great group there looking forward to seeing more of this over the coming years .

Cheers Alpine

[bodhidharma]

Agreed, a nice group indeed. I also think a small rotation to the left would help the view but i would like to see the large primary tree straightened a little to centralise it a little more. Also the left hand tree should be pulled towards the main group to pull it all together. Whatever you do though it is an outstanding group.

[Glenn C]

Hi Craig lovely group, I'm very fond of cedars and wish I had the skill to look after a group like this.
I was wondering if you rotate the group clockwise as you and others suggest to see more of the back tree and then bring the left hand trunk back toward the group will that then obstuct the view of it's trunk or can you reposition that tree completely?

[hugh grant]

very nice!
id very excited to have something of this quality in your collection, quite a gem this tree is.

Hugh