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Hawthorn

Posted: November 3rd, 2013, 8:01 pm
by Neli
I am going to post my hawthorn, in the hope that I can get few lines of advise.
It is not much on a material, not much of trunk, but that is all I could get within economical boundaries. It is basically rough material. I thought of making it weeping style, and leave some escape branches to thicken the trunk.
I did the first trimming few days ago.
I did not trim the lower branches since I fear, they are too thin, but I reduced the top most branches.
You might ask why am I asking for advise when I just came from apprenticeship from Japan. The reason is that one month is not enough time to learn much about bonsai, no matter how hard you try.As a result I decided to learn two things only. Pines and junipers. Thought it is better to learn something well than learn many things but not too well.
Probably during my next/third visit I shall concentrate on deciduous trees.
So here it is:
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this are some virtuals I made with different configuration of branch structure. Some branches are horizontal and then weeping, so me go up first, and so on...But if you look carefully each virtual has different brunch structure.
I plan to remove the top straight part on the apex, but for now It will stay in hopes of thickening the trunk as a sacrifice branch. If I get some suitable branches bellow I shall also let them grow as sacrifice branches.
On this virtual the branches are going directly downwards.
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On this virtual the branches are with defined pads , and space between the pads, and only the secondary branches are weeping. Like the second tree. I tried to study different type of trees so I figure out what I like best.
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The last one is a very common type of weeping style which I dont think will be suitable for this tree.
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Re: Hawthorn

Posted: November 3rd, 2013, 8:30 pm
by Neli
I am afraid The top branches were getting just too thick, so I trimmed them. Not too sure if I trimmed them enough. The lower branches are left to grow for now.
This is how I trimmed it:
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This is the proposed front. The top most branch going to the right will be the new apex/and branch. There is a small branch on top which I want to direct to the right. Every think above that is sacrifice material, and there are few branches on the trunk left for that purpose too.
Back
DSC01202 (413x550).jpg
My questions are as follows.
1, Can a weeping style be made from this tree, or it is not suitable.
2. Have I trimmed it well or not.
3 Which of the tree weeping styles are best suited for this tree, if at all.
Any suggestions will be welcome and appreciated.

Re: Hawthorn

Posted: November 3rd, 2013, 9:55 pm
by Grant Bowie
Interesting question.

Firstly I presume it is the same Hawthorn we have here in Australia? An import and escapee from England; Cratageous monogyna with white flowers.

The one I trimmed today had lots of strong, down growing shoots so I presume it would be possible to use a combination of shoots that are already going in the downwards direction and directional wiring of all others to achieve a weeping style. Lots of work but then what isn't.

You have kept some lower branches so wire and set those and then respond to the new growth as it happens.

The trunk is sinuous so put lots of work into the branches as well to match.

Wire everything until you start to see a repetitive reaction from the tree and follow its lead.

good luck.

grant

Re: Hawthorn

Posted: November 3rd, 2013, 11:45 pm
by Neli
Thanks Grant,
Much appreciated.
So I need to match the movement of the branches to the movement of the trunk. That is very sensible advise.
I think this is Crataegus cuneata, which originates from China and has much larger fruit. This is the white one but I have pink one also.
Should I wire the lower branches and leave them for long time to thicken without chopping them? I guess that will be the right action.
What I normally do is use pegs on very young branches to set the initial direction...and it is easy. This ones i would have to let harden a bit before adding the pegs since they will need to go up a bit first before down. But the primary branches will need to be wired crazy.