Ficus - Bakers Creek

[wattynine]

This tree used to hold up the roof of a nursery in Mackay known as Bakers Creek nursery, since closed down. Around 2010.
I went in at the end of the closure and pulled this out by cutting the top off the tree, the branches as mentioned were "espaliered" (forgive the spelling)to hold up the roof. Paid $25.00 for it and the great concrete pot it was in, which I had to sledgehammer off it to work on it. Anyhooo this the progression so far, didn't take photos of the tree previously or I have lost them.
So have a look, am I heading in the right direction, feedback is welcome.
This what I started with back in October 2013, having been in the pot for about three years.

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re potted in another trainer pot

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Now 11 months later, left untouched

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inside for operation clean up

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cleaned up and wired, question to the members, which way is the front and why?
this way?

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or this way?

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[Bush bunny]

Gracious it has done well. Well done, luv it!

[kcpoole]

Lovely tree Watty
it looks like a monster!

Ken

[mugen]

Nice tree
I like the look of the second front. Seems to be more dynamic and flows better.

Look forward to more updates.
Jac.

[wattynine]

Update time, long weekend, time for carving, pruning and re-potting.
I have always said this, in my opinion only of course, was this was too tall.
so Jan 2015, the big chop, taadaaahhh!

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and having done the big chop, it seems I lost, or almost lost half the tree and a stump died halfway down the root level. Not sure if I will keep that side yet, I have always kept in my head what Pete W said about it being two trees. But like the live side the tree will develop and I will decide on the fate of the live side, the dead side and the dead wood.

Anyhooo, what it looked like yesterday after another year in the dead corner,

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and some development;

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so another year or so will tell, great play date for the long weekend.
hope you enjoy the catchup,
Watty

[Hal]

$25 bucks? Is there a zero digit missing?

[Boics]

Interesting.

IN hindsight is there anything you would do differently?
(loaded question).

[wattynine]

thanks Boics, I always appreciate feedback but hindsight is always 20/20 vision so I'll look forward on this not back, the mistakes of two years ago/ a year ago are already made and there's no going back.
I'll add; maybe not cut it back so hard, maybe have kept the twin trunk, but maybe, maybe, maybe.
I'll work with what I have left, I still see a good tree in there, in the meantime I have learnt some stuff about figs.
It cost me next to nothing and I have had years of enjoyment out of it.
The carving practice was awesome and yes it will rot away in time and in that time I will enjoy the tree and ponder its next step.
Thanks for the interest,
Watty

[Boics]

Thanks for your honesty wattynine.

Yes, cutting it back so hard was what i was alluding too.
Whilst it's tempting to save time and with some species near too foolproof cutting beyond all green can introduce risks.

Is this a Benji?

[wattynine]

Yes mate, to the best of my knowledge, it's a benji