Major Juniper Bending Question

[Daluke]

I need some movement at the base of this Shimpaku.

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Rebarring is red, wire is white and brown is wood.

Does anyone have any ideas whether this is the most effective way to get a bend in?

Suggestions sought.

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[treeman]

First you should prune it (50% off at least) so you can see what you're doing.

[SuperBonSaiyan]

I recently watched this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivT5ABSEJQw

Not sure if the tree survived, but gives you an idea of how to bend.

I've also tried splitting a large branch on a juniper and putting quite an extreme bend in it. Not sure if it'll survive, but it is a sacrifice branch that is ready to come off - so even if it dies it'll make interesting deadwood.

[Trimmy]

Another option would be repotting it on an angle.

[Daluke]

Tried that - it’s too straight at the base

[SuperBonSaiyan]

Did you end up bending it?

Air layering/ground layering is another option if you're willing to rebuild the nebari.

[Daluke]

Not yet bro.

I’m not game enough to layer. If it fails the tree is finished

[Daluke]

After rio bar and some compression

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[BonsaiBobbie]

As an engineer, I don't often get to pick up people's spelling mistakes...

But "reo" is the abbreviation of "reinforcement"...

Just saying!

Probably a bit too late, but Bonsaify has a great video of what to do with straight Junipers. It isn't really targeted at "straight" junipers per se, but just gives another good option.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QlzgDtpg1M

[shibui]

I guess @Daluke meant he took that juniper to Brazil and shouted it a drink?

[treeman]

After rio bar and some compressionFullSizeRender-compressed.jpeg

Not much good having the trunk come out of the ground vertically and then bending. Hence my suggestion about thinning it out first to see where the bend is best placed.

[Daluke]

[quote=Daluke post_id=300670 time=<a href="tel:1687690408">1687690408</a> user_id=7344]
After rio bar and some compressionFullSizeRender-compressed.jpeg

Not much good having the trunk come out of the ground vertically and then bending. Hence my suggestion about thinning it out first to see where the bend is best placed.
[/quote]

Lol - I got rid of lots. I’ll keep thinning. I see your point