Branch position CEDAR

[Fukien beech]

and Grant....I followed your steps and then followed your link to the NBPCA...one word..AWESOME

[Fukien beech]

Remember-I will

[Gerard]

Nice job,
It is good to see you have taken the advice and kept lots of branches.
Now is the time to let it rest, pot into a larger pot, give it lots of sun and a regular feed.

[Andrew Legg]

Fukien,

Nice job mate! For the record, here's your target end result (more for those of us who may not be familiar with the Lebanese flag! )

Lebanon Cedar.jpg

I think you've done a really good job mate! It just goes to show what spending time thinking about a tree's design before jumping in with the clippers actually achieves. I'd like to add to Gerard's very good advice in his last post and say that although this is not a fast growing species, keep a careful watch on the wire and make sure it does not bite in. Nothing spoils a Cedar quicker than wire bite. This is specially important if you plant it out in the ground or a large pot. One other thing to remember with cedars is that their branches take a long time to set. You may need to change your wire a few times before it holds on its own. Even more reason to keep a watch for wire bite. I have heard from some people that cutting into the bark on the back of a branch (along the line of the branch but out of sight) can help to aid setting as the scar tissue that develops helps to hold the branch. Never tried it though. Ceadrs can be pretty bad at throwing out buds from older wood, so treasure any small branches with foliage growing in close to the trunk. They could just end up being major branches in your design in future.

Cheers,

Andrew

[Fukien beech]

wow im so glad there's awesome people on this forum! Gerard and Andrew you guys are a wealth of Knowledge! Thanks for your words guys...should I wait a bit before putting it in the earth/grow box? seeing as I just wired it or am I ok to do this right away? Andy, I think that idea of scarring the back side of the branch sounds really good...il give it a try and let you know (may take a while though). As for general wire bites, the tree already has a big one on the lower trunk so Il do my best to be mindful of that...once again I could not have done this without you guys!!!

THANKS!!! *hugs all around*

billy

[Andrew Legg]

Billy,

My opinion only (and this not backed up with any significant experience) is that you should let it settle until late spring. It is unlikely to grow much until then anyway. What do others think? If you do put it in the ground, don't mess with the roots too much.

Cheers,

Andrew

[shibui]

I only have one cedar so do not claim experience with cedar in particular but speaking generally I agree that there is little difference in planting a tree in the ground now or in spring. However I feel very strongly that roots should ALWAYS be sorted out when a tree is planted for growing on and from my experience this is even more important for conifers, esp pines and, I suspect, cedar. A well developed, thick tree with poor roots is far worse than a thin tree with poor roots!

[Tony Bebb]

Nice work Billy.

I would only mess with Cedar roots late winter when the buds swell but before needles start to grow. As mentioned sort the roots out when planting to ensure good growth and nebari. Best to cut as much of the root below the trunk as possible and leave the latteral ones as the will fatten the base better.

One comment on the styling would be to develop the small branch on the outside of the second bend as a keeper and use the strong branch below as a sacrificial one. Also the tree moves nicely to the right in direction but the apex leans back to the left of the base and effects the balance of the tree. This could be easily fixed by a bit more of a bend to the right or by simple tilting the whole tree to the right when planting.

Keep up the good work.

Tony

[Andrew Legg]

Billy,

My opinion only (and this not backed up with any significant experience) is that you should let it settle until late spring. It is unlikely to grow much until then anyway. What do others think? If you do put it in the ground, don't mess with the roots too much.

Cheers,

Andrew

Clarify . . . . "if you do put it in the ground now, don't mess with the roots too much now."

I have been told that cedars don't like too much root disturbance even at normal potting time. What do others here think or what experience do you guys have of this?

Cheers,

Andrew