Banksia integrifolia. Possible overhaul

[Jow]

Hi all,

I am thinking of overhauling this tree.

Here is a photo of it yesterday.

What do you think?

All thoughts, comments,suggestions welcome.

banksia integrifolia.JPG

Grant

Hi grant...

Just looking at this tree. Will the trunk bend? If you used some reenforcing bar and a clamp could you get it to bend 15 degrees or so? I dont grow banksia so i dont know how they resond to bending.
I did a quick (bad) virtual to help explain.

banksia grant a.jpg

*** EDIT*** that was meant to be a PM...

Any way hope all is well up there and good luck with the banksia.

Talk soon i am sure.

Joe.

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Joe,

Banksia tend to snap more than bend but it may be possible to cut out a major channel at the back and do so.

If you do snap them they bud back quite freely.

Yes you gave me the name of the potter.

Trees are doing fine despite the wet and cool weather.

grant

[Petra]

branch on the left always reminds me of something like the image below.

My first thoughts were the same.
I would move the trunk after the first branch more to the left a couple notches. Also branch No 5 to the left more,
& not seeing the back view id chop the 7th & the 9th branch. Then it
would look more feminine, my worth

[platinum]

hi grant

that is one amazing tree, i wouldnt rush in and change to much.

i like it in the photo, so i would love to come home from work every day,

and be able to walk around it and ponder.

do you let it flower at all, or are you constantly pinching new growth.

platinum.

[Grant Bowie]

branch on the left always reminds me of something like the image below.

My first thoughts were the same.
I would move the trunk after the first branch more to the left a couple notches. Also branch No 5 to the left more,
& not seeing the back view id chop the 7th & the 9th branch. Then it
would look more feminine, my worth

The tree was originally designed; very loosely; as a slender Bunjingi/Literati/Nativi style but it has thickened up over the years so hence the current dilema.

It has gotten more and more formal as years have gone by and hence my thoughts about a restyle.

Keep the comments coming. I could do a 360 if Steven thinks it worthwhile.

Also I was thinking of bringing this tree to the combined AABC/BFA show next week as one of my personal display trees. You could see it in person if you are at the show.

grant

[Pup]

What itches me is not the movement to the right of the trunk, about halfway up, which might not be so difficult to remedy. No, for me it is the pronounced sinuous movement of the lower trunk compounded by that of the first branch on the left. It's all too 'snakey'; moreover, the style of the first branch on the left always reminds me of something like the image below. (This should be "in my humble opinion". Sincerely so!)

Lisa

Hi Lisa,

That left hand branch has been worked on many times and I am still not happy with it.

Grant

My I would chop it Now some one with the Virtual skills please do one with that branch gone please. I would strike the branch though then you will have a nice shohin as well. As I said my
Pup

[Grant Bowie]

hi grant

that is one amazing tree, i wouldnt rush in and change to much.

i like it in the photo, so i would love to come home from work every day,

and be able to walk around it and ponder.

do you let it flower at all, or are you constantly pinching new growth.

platinum.

New growth is constantly trimmed. To get a Banksia integrifolia to flower as a bonsai would be problematic. The flower spike happens at the very end of new growth(could be 10, 20 30 or even 40cm long) and then takes a season or so to grow and flower; by which time the next lot of new growth(called by-passes) have elongated again past the expanding flower, so the flower and even more foliage is well outside the silhouette of the tree. Unless you starve the tree to keep the growth compact which I will not do.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

What itches me is not the movement to the right of the trunk, about halfway up, which might not be so difficult to remedy. No, for me it is the pronounced sinuous movement of the lower trunk compounded by that of the first branch on the left. It's all too 'snakey'; moreover, the style of the first branch on the left always reminds me of something like the image below. (This should be "in my humble opinion". Sincerely so!)

Lisa

Hi Lisa,

That left hand branch has been worked on many times and I am still not happy with it.

Grant

My I would chop it Now some one with the Virtual skills please do one with that branch gone please. I would strike the branch though then you will have a nice shohin as well. As I said my
Pup

Hi Pup,

So you would chop off the lowest left hand branch?

Grant

[Pup]

What itches me is not the movement to the right of the trunk, about halfway up, which might not be so difficult to remedy. No, for me it is the pronounced sinuous movement of the lower trunk compounded by that of the first branch on the left. It's all too 'snakey'; moreover, the style of the first branch on the left always reminds me of something like the image below. (This should be "in my humble opinion". Sincerely so!)

Lisa

Hi Lisa,

That left hand branch has been worked on many times and I am still not happy with it.

Grant

My I would chop it Now some one with the Virtual skills please do one with that branch gone please. I would strike the branch though then you will have a nice shohin as well. As I said my

Hi Pup,

So you would chop off the lowest left hand branch?

Grant

Yes , i would as I see it, it is the biggest problem with this tree, it is what makes un . As I said just my

Cheers Pup

[Leigh Taafe]

Looks like it might be all too much trouble, and you wont have the time.....you have a very busy year ahead of you Grant! You wont want to over commit yourself! Hint hint!

[Bougy Fan]

Hi Grant it just doesn't look right as it is. I would keep the lower left hand branch and chop the rest off. I think the integ shoots readily on old wood ? You could layer the top off but I have found banksias very slow to develop roots from a layer. Then see how it shoots and go from there. Just my

Tony

[LLK]

My I would chop it Now some one with the Virtual skills please do one with that branch gone please. I would strike the branch though then you will have a nice shohin as well. As I said my
Pup

Okay Pup, no sweat.

Lisa

[GavinG]

It's a fine old Banksia, and I'd certainly be proud to own it as is.

BUT. Since you are being particular, this is what I see.

The low trunk and the first left branch have a wonderful rhythm of sinuous curves out to the edge, I'll drink from/to that any day. They are the essence of the tree.

As you can see from the virts, cutting the left branch just emphasises the difference between the low trunk and the upper.

From the left branch up, the trunk is much straighter, and barely tapers. You can see where it had curves when it was slenderer, but as with most of us, time has not been kind around the middle.

I can't see a radical solution, and possibly it's not needed. Maybe think of thinning out the pads, and divert a few branchlets over the trunk in a burlesque kinda way, to disguise the strength up high and give the impression of movement that ain't quite there. I don't think it needs radical anything. Let the upper trunk peep through clouds.

It's certainly in better shape than I am, and will almost certainly improve with age. Damn.

Gavin

[Grant Bowie]

Hi all,

I will do some sketches over the weekend in between painting and other chores.

Grant

[Webos]

Gday Grant. If you could give us an idea of how tall the tree is and how easily bent the branches are, that would be great.