Umbrella tree(Schefflera)- Another giant yamadori.

[lennard]

The tree was growing in a broken pot in an inner court. The roots grew through the paving into the soil:

Image9.jpg

I removed the tree in July 2009:

verklein 1.jpg

In spring (October 2009) I reduced the rootball and re-potted it in a training pot. January 2010 it was growing well:

uitgeloop janu 2010.jpg

This is the possible front in June 2010:

voor.jpg

This is the tree January 2011. I have removed one part of the trunks to the left:

front deleafed january 2011.jpg

There are big decisions to be made?

Any advice or comments welcome.

Lennard

[Ash]

Hi Lennard, I think that an umbrella crowned 'banyan' is the most appropriate style for this material. Umbrella trees often do this naturally. I would recommend that you reduce the cuts further and create a clean edge using a very sharp blade and then seal the cuts using either cut paste or cut putty. I would then let it grow again for a season to encourage the closing of those cuts. If the top cut on the right hand branch is reduced further to be cut the other way (cut facing upwards) then the first right trunk becomes a great base for a primary branch that first lifts up and then fans out widely. It will also hide the cut. You can encourage aerial roots on Schefllera in a similar way to figs but they look best when fused back to the trunk (they seldom free hang in nature on Schefllera). This means you can change the straightness of the second left trunk by encouraging several aerial roots at various heights and then fusing them along the trunk to add texture and movement. You will also be able to hide the crossed fused trunks using this approach.

Keep us posted
regards
Ash

[lennard]

I would recommend that you reduce the cuts further and create a clean edge using a very sharp blade and then seal the cuts using either cut paste or cut putty.

Keep us posted
regards
Ash

Thanks for taking the time to respond, Ash.

Could you please indicate with a virt where you would do the cuts?

Here is a pic with a different angle:

other angle.jpg

Lennard

[lennard]

An update:

August 2012.jpg

The tree has grown out nicely. Waiting for warmer weather before cutting back and defoliation.

Any comments and advice welcome.

Lennard