First attempt with a juniper (pic resized)

[Craig.a.c]

This is my first attempt at shaping a Juniper. I cut off about 90% of it along with all the other branches and this was the end result.
For my first attempt, I don't think it is too bad, but it could be better.
Let me know what you all think.

resized pic, it should be ok now.

Cheers - Craig.

[Craig.a.c]

It was very hard to bend and I didn't want to force it resulting in a break.

[Craig.a.c]

Wow.
Is it really that bad that no one is going to offer advice or even say "not too bad"?

[Tenacity]

I love it, good first attempt.

[Craig.a.c]

I love it, good first attempt.

Thank you. I had fun working on it, I might buy a few more and see what I can come up with.

[AndrewM]

G'ady Craig

I am no expert on Junipers but with the bending when you get it to a point you think it might break stop there and you can always go back to it once the tree has recovered from it's trimming and wiring. Mate as far as design goes we all get better with time.

Andrew

[kvan64]

Nice first attempt mate. If it was mine, I would go for a cascade style. Otherwise a windswept is also nice to try. Junipers can be bent to a great degree. I thought I killed my entry tree but it turned out tougher than I thought. If you check out the Literati competition threads, you'll find quite a few junipers there.
Cheers,
DK

[Craig.a.c]

G'ady Craig

I am no expert on Junipers but with the bending when you get it to a point you think it might break stop there and you can always go back to it once the tree has recovered from it's trimming and wiring. Mate as far as design goes we all get better with time.

Andrew

Thanks for the reply. I am going to see how it fills out come spring time and then see if I want to get more of a bend in it.

[Craig.a.c]

Nice first attempt mate. If it was mine, I would go for a cascade style. Otherwise a windswept is also nice to try. Junipers can be bent to a great degree. I thought I killed my entry tree but it turned out tougher than I thought. If you check out the Literati competition threads, you'll find quite a few junipers there.
Cheers,
DK

I was thinking of going cascade when I first started but I have never really liked the cascade look. Who knows, maybe cascade will grow on me.

[Pup]

Craig I did put a post here but for some reason it did not get where it should have been.

You asked for comments I must admit mine were not flattering.
My first thought is why did you take so much off and do so little. The tree now would be better if you cut it back and started at the second branch.

As for being hard to bend do you mean to hold in position!!. The size wire you have on is too light to bend and hold that trunk line, you need double the thickness.
When you are using wire, you need to try and bend the trunk or branch, then try it with the wire you think is the right size.

If that wire is the same to bend as the branch or trunk, then it will do the job.

Sorry, but you did ask and that is what I see just one person though.
Cheers Pup

[craigw60]

Hi Craig,
You need to be more consistent in the movement of the trees trunk. It has quite a sharp curve at the base then you move into a gentle curve then another sharp curve at the top. It is not such a bad thing to make a simple cork screw which would shorten the height of the tree and give it 3 dimensional curves. You need to wire lots and lots of plants before you get the hang of it. Its always helpful to look at good old bonsai and copy the designs, this will give you a better feel for styling.
Craig

[Craig.a.c]

Craig I did put a post here but for some reason it did not get where it should have been.

You asked for comments I must admit mine were not flattering.
My first thought is why did you take so much off and do so little. The tree now would be better if you cut it back and started at the second branch.

As for being hard to bend do you mean to hold in position!!. The size wire you have on is too light to bend and hold that trunk line, you need double the thickness.
When you are using wire, you need to try and bend the trunk or branch, then try it with the wire you think is the right size.

If that wire is the same to bend as the branch or trunk, then it will do the job.

Sorry, but you did ask and that is what I see just one person though.
Cheers Pup

Thanks for the input Pup. As for your comments not being "flattering", I like to think of it as constructive criticism. How else are meant to learn.
Looking at it now, I was to hasty and rushed into it, just got to excited I think. Thanks for your input.
This hobby is very addictive, so many things I want to try.

[Craig.a.c]

Hi Craig,
You need to be more consistent in the movement of the trees trunk. It has quite a sharp curve at the base then you move into a gentle curve then another sharp curve at the top.
Craig

That "sharp curve" isn't really a curve at all. It is the main trunk were another 6-7 branches came off. I should have left a smaller one on there to work with and went up.