confused about Juniper

[ADO]

Hi,

this is another juniper bought a couple of weeks ago from a bonsai nursery in Perth. The first photo is of the tree as I bought it. The second photo is after I thinned out the foliage and removed a branch going against the flow of the tree. I removed all dead or dying growth and thinned out the tree so I could see what was going on.

As you can see, I found that most of the foliage was on one side of the trunk with branches growing up at 90 deg along the trunk with not much foliage growing lower on the branches. looking at this tree, I cannot for the life of me see a direction to go with this tree. Obviously any true upright style is out of the question but I don't think a cascade or semi-cascade would be an option either. In other words, I need more experienced eyes than mine to help me see if there is a potential tree in there. Or should I put it aside for now?
I would really appreciate any help and advice from more experienced people

thank you

Adrian

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[mtarros]

Hi,

You could change the planting angle and style it as a raft?

Thanks
Michael

[ADO]

Hi,

You could change the planting angle and style it as a raft?

Thanks
Michael

thanks Michael,

I have thought about a raft but I am not really a fan of that style. But maybe there is not any other option as the main trunk is too old to bend. I'll have another think about. thanks for your input

Cheers

Adrian

[ADO]

Hi,

anyone else has any ideas for this tree or should I just plant it in the garden as a landscape plant?

all opinions would be a massive help.

hope to hear more replies

thanks for reading my posts

Adrian Di Lello

[Guy]

consider keeping the planting angle as is-looking at the front-removing the first or second branch-keep the back branch-bend what would then be the first and second branch almost horizontal to the right --the far left branch slightly below horizontal--and choose the apex from the remaining two top branches -possibly removing or jinning the trunk that is above the highest branch -would then have a pleasing low and broad silhouette

[ADO]

consider keeping the planting angle as is-looking at the front-removing the first or second branch-keep the back branch-bend what would then be the first and second branch almost horizontal to the right --the far left branch slightly below horizontal--and choose the apex from the remaining two top branches -possibly removing or jinning the trunk that is above the highest branch -would then have a pleasing low and broad silhouette

Hi Guy,

thanks for your input. I like your idea better than making it a raft. I'll do a few sketches and post one I think reflects what your envisaged for my tree.

cheers

[Josh]

First thing I thought when I saw it was bend the branches to follow the same direction as the trunk and go for a wind swept style. The planting angle could be increased if you wanted to increase the wind swept effect. The first branch would become the crown and then step the branches down to the Very tip. It's got good potential Snd forth using.

Josh.

[kcpoole]

As the tree is Quite small, to grow on will take lots of years so will need to be in a large pot and forgotten about for ages, I assume that is not what you want.

Taking the trunkline and branching you have I see this virt as a small slanting style tree.
The trunk does not change, but the branches are wired down and shortened, to bring the foliage down and into the trunk to make it more compact.

Ken

[ADO]

First thing I thought when I saw it was bend the branches to follow the same direction as the trunk and go for a wind swept style. The planting angle could be increased if you wanted to increase the wind swept effect. The first branch would become the crown and then step the branches down to the Very tip. It's got good potential Snd forth using.

Josh.

Hi Josh, thanks very much also for your idea. I'll do some sketches and see what comes out.

Taking the trunkline and branching you have I see this virt as a small slanting style tree.
The trunk does not change, but the branches are wired down and shortened, to bring the foliage down and into the trunk to make it more compact.

Hi Ken, thanks for taking the time to do a virtual for me. I think that your front is a better front than what I had originally proposed.
I already have a couple of junipers growing so I would like to keep this a small tree.
I'll try to keep everyone posted

Cheers

Adrian

[Dario]

Hi Adrian, I like this tree but I would advise pushing the foliage back over a couple of seasons and then revisit styling options
I would lose the fist branch (leave a stub for now) though as it most probably won't be in the final design.
Cheers, Dario.

[Shinkitai]

I would remove thecfirst branch on the left and the main right branch/trunk and have the branch going up as your new trunk line. This would give a nice taper to the trunk. A little bending of the new trunk and then bring some of the remaining branches down.

You may have to do the work over a period of time as it may not like losing that much foliage at once. I am not very experienced but read somewhere not to remove more than a third of a junipers foliage in one go, something about them breathing through the foliage? Maybe someone who has a lot more experience could confirm or deny.

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