cascade juniper - how should i further style this tree?

[hugh grant]

hey people
My juniper here which i believe is a juiperous squagmata ( i think that how you spell it ) which is in the style of cascade has been in my possession for about 3 years and was styled from a commercial nursery stock plant that i purchased.It has 2 main trunks one longer one at the front and one shorter one at the back. It was just trimmed as you can proberly see and ive never been totally happy with its over all shape and branch structure, of course its styling isn't finished and needs further refinment.

CIMG0932.JPG

If anyone has any comments or ideas on my tree that would help i would be extremely greatfull to have them ,as they say 'many minds are better than one'
thanks

Hugh

CIMG0933.JPG

CIMG0939.JPG

CIMG0941.JPG

CIMG0946.JPG

CIMG0938.JPG

CIMG0937.JPG

CIMG0934.JPG

CIMG0935.JPG

[hugh grant]

If any one has any ideas it would be much appreciated.
thanks
Hugh

[Jamie]

it looks quite heavy overall for the apex you have shown on it, i would try and grow the apex out some more and balance it a bit better, have you tried changing the angle so it isnt so downward??? maybe look at going semi cascade instead of full, i know it has a lot of growth there but i just get the feeling about this tree semi might work for it better?

jamie

[hugh grant]

Thanks
i've been trying to get the apex bigger. The main reason it isn't is because I only set it in place not long ago so it's still developing. I have thought about making it a semi cascade and raising it but if I did that it would probably need shortening and I'm not sure were I would do that. Also should I use the back as the front possibly having the shorter trunk in front of the larger longer one or would this ruin the depth of the tree.
Thanks

Hugh

[Jamie]

if you are going to go with a semi you would lose the larger, longer tail, this would alow you to change angle without it looking awkward, the apex would definately have to be allowed to grow freely and built up to look like an apex, right now it is looking a bit odd from a certain angle because it is a branch of the long tail.

its a hard call mate.


jamie

[hugh grant]

Do you mean loose the the whole of the longer trunk or just shorten it?
Yes I will deffinetally have to let the apex grow alot more to allow it to become big enough.

Hugh

[kcpoole]

if you are going to go with a semi you would lose the larger, longer tail, this would alow you to change angle without it looking awkward, the apex would definately have to be allowed to grow freely and built up to look like an apex, right now it is looking a bit odd from a certain angle because it is a branch of the long tail.

its a hard call mate.


jamie

Thats only if you like an apex on a cascade at all.
Personally I like to see cascades with no foliage ( or very little) above the top of the highest point of the trunk

Ken

[Gerard]

I am with Ken, I do not like too much of an apex on a cascade, semi cascade is different but that would be a major restyle for this tree.
I would concentrate on forming the pads by reducing the foliage mass on every pad quite dramatically. Everything growing down and most ot what is growing up. Then wire everthing in sight this will produce nice pads in a short time. At the same time you could let the apex grow freely a lot of the trees energy would be directed to the apex (if you decide to keep an apex at all) this would give faster growth at the apex and make it easier to decide where you wish to go with it.
Regards Gerard

[hugh grant]

That could be a possibility removing the apex altogether. Your idea gerard to thinen out the tree and wire is a goodstart Im thinking. Then I could decide wheather to put it into a semi or full cascade.
Thank
Hugh

[dayne]

hi theres a couple of ways to go here i would remove and jin the second smaller trunk ,
or wrap it and wire it and bend it up above the base of tree as an apex and shorten it back to its first pad or branch
the next step is to shorten all the padsthey will look terrible for a couple of months but it will be better for the future of the tree
one this is done as soon as new groth comes up pinch it back this will help with making the new short branches dense
have a look at my tree in critiques it has boomed since i have cut it back hard

[dayne]

actually re looking at the photos i would keep the shorter trunk as it has better braching the longer one has all branches on side and wont look very balanced cho it back to first branch well thats what i would do but it aint mine so just a thought

[hugh grant]

that is a tough decision to do that im not sure yet what i will do from the ideas ive been given but i will think about what i will do. thanks for the ideas and if anyone has any more just keep them coming cuz every bit of advice will help
thanks
hugh

[dayne]

its allways easy for me to say cut this bend that but i dont have any atatchment to the tree nor did i pay for it so id sleep on it and keep lookin at it it will come to you

[hugh grant]

well its been nearly 2 years since this tree was updated on and its progressed very well. early 2010 the tree suffered quite a bit and nearly died (which you can see here viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3763 ) but managed to come back well. i have spent the time since putting it back to good health and this spring i felt it was ready to be styled once more. it has budded really well this spring in strong balanced growth all over the tree.
Today i gave it its first styling in a long time. i had been planning this design for this tree for a few months now and im really happy how it turned out.
i used the former back of the tree as the new front and used the smaller trunk to be bent up and twisted upon itself. this created the layers of foliage that i wanted as it was too sparse in the upper area. i then removed some of the highest branches off the longer trunk as they were too leggy and then bent the bottom half around under the smaller trunk . i then pulled the the 2 trunks closer together with guy wires. i spent the whole day working on the tree wiring it out and bending into position. i ran out of the smallest gauge wire so i didnt get to do the very very detailed wiring to tidy it up but ill do that later some time.

i havnt worked on the apex yet as i want to let it strengthen a bit more and build up a bit more foliage mass before i work on it. ill probably wire it out in a few months time.

003.JPG

004.JPG

006.JPG

019.JPG

015.JPG

016.JPG

014.JPG

it will look alot better once the apex is filled out a bit and i wire it out, so just ignore its untidiness for now

Hugh

[deepeetee]

Nice work big guy,

Definite improvement!!

Dave