Lilly Pilly

[Brandon]

Hi All,

Not sure where to go with this one at this stage, it received its first training a couple of weeks ago, unfortunately I clean forgot to take a before pic. Please ignore the pot and pebbles on top, afterall, the little tyke is in training not showing!

Please critique as you see fit, all words of wisdom will be received with due respect.

Cheers

P.S. Just for your info, the tree was bought from a landscape centre around 18months ago and was left to free grow in its pot for untill a few weeks ago. The pics look pretty raggidy at the moment, I cant seem to get definitive refined foliage pads, mind you, it was reduced considerably through its first styling so I am hoping over the next 2 growing seasons, the pads will fill out somewhat.

[Pup]

G,day Brandon, when was it potted?

The reason I ask is, that Lilly pilly benefit from defoliation in reducing leaf size and ramification.
I did one of mine two weeks ago but it was re potted last march.
So if yours is well established it can safely be done to help to figure out where you want to go.

If you PM me I can give some info that will help a Perth Boy. Cheers Pup

[Brandon]

Heres an update of the 4 sides of the tree, the wires have come off and 1/2 was defoliated (though you wouldn't know it from looking at the pics!) I'm just going to let it grow freely for the remainder of the summer/autumn, and re-assess it in spring, not sure where to go with it, am thinking about chopping some major branches....

[kcpoole]

Hi Brandon
I think it needs to have some branch removal work and then trim back foliage to develop back closer to the trunks
I have made a virt of the first picture you had, to make more like a twin trunk / first lower branch on the right.
i have removed the other branches from this area, and cleaned up some wild foliage hiding the trunk. and reduced the height a little by removing the wild top

Once you start to work the foliage you will develop nice foliage pads quite quickly. You could do a ground layer at the base to make a true twin trunk if you like as well.
Would not take long before you get a nice tree here

Ken

[Brandon]

Hi Brandon
I think it needs to have some branch removal work and then trim back foliage to develop back closer to the trunks
I have made a virt of the first picture you had, to make more like a twin trunk / first lower branch on the right.
i have removed the other branches from this area, and cleaned up some wild foliage hiding the trunk. and reduced the height a little by removing the wild top

Once you start to work the foliage you will develop nice foliage pads quite quickly. You could do a ground layer at the base to make a true twin trunk if you like as well.
Would not take long before you get a nice tree here

Ken

Thanks for the feedback and Virt!

Just a question, is it safe to do a major prune like this at this time of year, or should I wait until next spring?? In perth here we are about to go through our hottest month of the year, february/march.

[craigw60]

Hi Brandon,
I think your work looks good. personally I would not remove too many more branches yet, I think that while the tree is still young its good to have lots of branching then you can gradually remove them over the years as the tree ages.
hope that is useful advice

[kcpoole]

Hi Craig

One of the teachers at "the School of Bonsai" when I started, Ron Flack, had a saying about leaving branches or foliage on a tree while developing it

" Why let a tree waste energy putting on Growth that you are going to chop off any way!"

Unless you are leaving it use as a sacrifice branch, then it just wasted energy and effort to maintain it. Better of to get rid of it so it does not distract you from seeing the tree you wish to develop without hindrance.

Most people remove flowers from trees in develpoment rather than waste energy on them, so why not unneeded branches and foliage on any other tree?


Brandon, I would remove any excess branches now if it were mine.

Ken

[Mojo Moyogi]

Ken,
A bit defensive? I don't think your virt was being critiqued.

Brandon,
I agree with Craig, I much prefer your tree as it is, with a bit of width in the canopy and a bit of grace. If you can establish some horizontal branch planes and work with what is essentially a fairly attractive silhouette, I think that he long term result will be more impressive than with a drastic reduction. Perhaps if you were to rotate the tree from the first picture a little to the left it would soften the curve at the base of the primary trunk a little, from there, I can definitely see a pleasing twin trunk in the future.

Cheers
MM

[NathanM]

I didn't see Ken's post as defensive at all? Craig said remove the brances over a period of time, but I agree with Ken. The energy that the tree is putting to those branches is being wasted. Remove them and the energy will go to the ones that will be staying. It makes sense.
By all means leave them if you like them and want to keep them as part of the design, but otherwise, chop them off.

[kcpoole]

Heyah Mojo
Nah not defensive at all. Just telling like I see it

We all have different opinions and that is very good 'cos it give us a different perspective on our trees.
Many time I have had a thought, but once heard a different opinion then changed my mind. It is how we all learn the art, and to take offence/ get defensive when other opinions are voiced then that is when we stop learning.

Ken

[Brandon]

Alright here is the Lilly Pilly, I completed a restyle this weekend, and now looking at these photos, I don't think I have been brutal enough with my pruning.

I've tried to keep a relatively natural look to it, ie. the wider left side, any thoughts/suggestions welcomed and appreciated.

I had to repot aswell as it was rootbound (in such a short time since it's last potting!) so I slightly reduced the pot width and depth. It will eventually go back into another circular styled pot.

I really think it needs to be pruned down more, I am just such a wimp I can't bear to take off any major branches!

[craigw60]

Hi Brandon,
Your tree is looking really good. The trunk curves are great .Your idea for a more informal design is the right way to go. Just one small suggestion, on your preferred front the first branch on the right side is in danger of becoming too heavy, this could be a problem in future years. It could be a good idea to shorten it and take up a new leader to encourage some taper in that branch.
Craig

[Brandon]

Hey Craig,

Yeah, that right branch is a little bit of a potential eyesore, I'm secretly hoping that the development of a dense foliage pad on the right hand side over the next months/years will cover it as I'm too much of a wimp to chop it and regrow! Having said that, I do need to do something about it.

Also the roots are non-existent on my (new) preferred front, so I think (when I get around to it) I will take Kens advice and do a Ground Layer to help turn it into a true twin/triple trunk design.

[craigw60]

Hi Brandon, Lilly pilly are really fast growers if you do the hard chopping now your tree will recover and fill out again in no time. In the past I have used foliage to cover problem areas but have found these things always come back to bite you in the long term, its so much better to get things set up properly while the tree is young.
Craig

[Brandon]

Thought i'd post a pic with a better perspective of the tree, am still getting the hang of the photography side of things. It's amazing how a picture can really put your tree into perspective. In the flesh I am happy with how this tree is going, however when I look at the pictures, I can't see any developing foliage pads I am trying to get and the trunk doesn't have the same presence! Just thoughts really.

12th of April 2010 096.jpg

Am definently going to chop the right branch (on Craigs advice) back to a new leader, just waiting for a sunny day to get out in the garden!