juniperis foemina

[craigw60]

this is a juniper which I think is foemina. I started this tree from old nursery stock around 20 yrs ago. I cut every branch off it and grew new branches from the little shoots at the junction of branches and trunk. If I was starting it again today I would have taken a very different approach. About 10 yrs ago I got the sick of it and gave it to a friend of mine. Now he has got the sick of it and given it back. So I am stuck with it once again. I would like to get stuck into it and do a complete make over. I think some small jin and some shari is in order. The tree is 90cm tall. I would like to reduce the height and have just a very few extremely short branches.
Ideas and a virt or 2 would be great if someone could help me out.
With thanks from Craigw

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Craig,

I think you are on the right track.

You could cut it down by about 1/3rd, have a jin apex and sharply rake down the remaining branches.

Grant

[craigw60]

Heres a story that is way off topic. This morning I was working in a garden just behind the Olinda village, the place is 10 acres. The back section is a paddock just scattered with chestnuts which has a lovely view of the city. I went for a stroll down their and there was a herd of 6 sambar deer grazing in the paddock.
Craigw

[Jamie]

gday craig

i think getting the height down is a good idea, but i dont think taking it off the top is right, the trunk doesnt have enough movement or interest to work, in my eyes anyways, would you consider an airlayer? I know it is a risk with juniper and you would have to be very careful in doing it i beleive. possible another alternative is to change the planting angle, take the heavy top section of and turn to jin, and then create a slanting/windswept look with whats left might just work. I cant do virts at the moment but will sketch out my thoughts asap.

Jamie

[craigw60]

Hi Jamie, thats an understatement it has no movement or interest but it does have nice bark. I will be very interested to see what you come up with.
Craigw

[Mojo Moyogi]

Hi Craig,
I'm sure this tree has potential locked in there somewhere, is there any chance you could bring it to the next club meeting so we can give it a spin on the turntable and scratch our collaborative heads? In the meantime, if you can photograph it in front of a plain background, I'd be more than happy to try a virtual or 2 as well.

Cheers,
Mojo

[craigw60]

Thanks Mojo, will do on all fronts.
Craigw

[Jarrod]

Craig, this could be a fun heavy bending challange... I reckon we could tweak it enough for interest!

[Pup]

G,day Craig similar situation. This is what I did Just a thought.

Cheers Pup

P1100363.JPG

P1100364.JPG

[craigw60]

Hi Jarrod I have some rolls of heavy wire if you feel like it I am up for it. The club is going to have raffia at the next meeting to. Other wise I was thinking about carving deeply right down the trunk.
Craigw

[Guy]

the apex seems a little strange to me--I would remove or jin one and reduce the volume of the other two or so top branches --------- jin the bottom three or four branches(making each jin quite short)-trying to keep as much height as possible and try to make it look like it has reached for the sky for many years.---but then again---------

[Guy]

----------and then put it in a larger more shallow tray---

[Webos]

Gday Craig,
A bit of a virt, branches bent down, height reduced and a crown on top

[Webos]

And Side by side

[GavinG]

Sorry, I don't get what the problem is. Graceful, aged trunk, just a bit overpowered by the foliage. Maybe just thin and possibly shorten the pads, get the branches a bit cranky, resolve the triple-branching top. Fine tree, nicely potted. I wouldn't lose any height, because the branches are all high as it is. Trees don't need to be exaggerated or dramatic to be good - subtle and graceful is sometimes more difficult to carry off. I like it.

Gavin