$15 procumbens juniper
Posted: June 29th, 2016, 7:59 am
Hey folks,
About 2 years ago I started a thread about a juniper (some may remember the tree) I had purchased from bunnings for $15, it turned into quite a nice little tree and is still developing well.
About the same time as I purchased that tree I picked up another 1, it had a slightly thicker trunk and split very quickly into 2 equally thick horizontal branches. I intended to make the tree into a cascade so I jinned 1 branch, shortened the 2nd and used 2 or 3 of the remaining bits of foliage and roughly styled the tree. I then left it alone, having quite soon after decided that I had done a terrible job.
The tree was left to languish in what has now become my dead corner, getting the odd feed but for the most part doing whatever it wanted. Being procumbens it periodically would be filled with old dead needles and would look terrible but invariably would always bounce back.
About a year ago I picked it up again and decided for some reason that I would try and get some movement into what had now developed into a longish straight (although thick for the size of the tree) section of trunk, so I grabbed some 5mm wire and wrapped it up, then just twisted and compressed, resulting in a nice twist in the trunk, after a still very straight section, and a huge split along the middle of the twisted section. Not sure if it would survive I put it back in it's corner and the (mis)treatment continued.
Yesterday I picked it up, brushed away a considerable amount of those dead needles that hang on to this species, and discovered (not altogether to my surprise) that the were the bones of branches there for styling, so I decided what the hell. I changed the angle, built some shari around the split and the old jin and without needing to really remove any foliage styled it up. Seeing as I hadn't really removed anything from the top I then potted it up. I've taken a risk but nothing ventured nothing gained, and at the end of the day no biggie if it doesn't make it (although it would be a shame) as it's already been a fun ride.
Anyway, after my rather long winded intro, here's the tree And with the shears for scale (this one sits firmly in the shohin category) I hope you all enjoy the back story and the tree, I always keep my eyes open for more of these at bunnings but since then all they seem to stock is skyrocket chinensis and tiny shore juniper, but there you go, if your lucky and have an eye, or 2 years worth of neglect, you can pick up decent trees for $15
Kez
About 2 years ago I started a thread about a juniper (some may remember the tree) I had purchased from bunnings for $15, it turned into quite a nice little tree and is still developing well.
About the same time as I purchased that tree I picked up another 1, it had a slightly thicker trunk and split very quickly into 2 equally thick horizontal branches. I intended to make the tree into a cascade so I jinned 1 branch, shortened the 2nd and used 2 or 3 of the remaining bits of foliage and roughly styled the tree. I then left it alone, having quite soon after decided that I had done a terrible job.
The tree was left to languish in what has now become my dead corner, getting the odd feed but for the most part doing whatever it wanted. Being procumbens it periodically would be filled with old dead needles and would look terrible but invariably would always bounce back.
About a year ago I picked it up again and decided for some reason that I would try and get some movement into what had now developed into a longish straight (although thick for the size of the tree) section of trunk, so I grabbed some 5mm wire and wrapped it up, then just twisted and compressed, resulting in a nice twist in the trunk, after a still very straight section, and a huge split along the middle of the twisted section. Not sure if it would survive I put it back in it's corner and the (mis)treatment continued.
Yesterday I picked it up, brushed away a considerable amount of those dead needles that hang on to this species, and discovered (not altogether to my surprise) that the were the bones of branches there for styling, so I decided what the hell. I changed the angle, built some shari around the split and the old jin and without needing to really remove any foliage styled it up. Seeing as I hadn't really removed anything from the top I then potted it up. I've taken a risk but nothing ventured nothing gained, and at the end of the day no biggie if it doesn't make it (although it would be a shame) as it's already been a fun ride.
Anyway, after my rather long winded intro, here's the tree And with the shears for scale (this one sits firmly in the shohin category) I hope you all enjoy the back story and the tree, I always keep my eyes open for more of these at bunnings but since then all they seem to stock is skyrocket chinensis and tiny shore juniper, but there you go, if your lucky and have an eye, or 2 years worth of neglect, you can pick up decent trees for $15
Kez
