SYZIGIUM AUSTRALIS / lillypilly

[anttal63]

recent aquisition; native aussie stock with good potential at a good price. $275 was the price. personally i believe this was one of those freak oppertunities. right place at the right time. nothing else there was worth looking at and im not being my usual harsh self when i say this. anyway's i have been messing with this specie and variety as well as other varieties for a few years now. so i snapped it up feeling confident that i can make something of this tree.
theres a bulge on the first left hand turn that causes a little reverse taper and there are no visible surface roots round the back of the tree that i can see at this stage. without getting under the soil. but these are things i can fix. the nebeari across the front is rokn, from there the movement is dynamic till we hit the top third of the tree. enough branches here to build a tree no prob. but what to do with the top third? trunk chop and rebuild?

i invite any of you to get serious and have a good crack at solving this problem with me. please i would like some virts from you virtual wizz kids out there. here is a b4 shot and then the preliminary clean up, with a new front. this front has the best nebari, movement and deals with some of the reverse taper.

030120103527.jpg

030120103528.jpg

[sreeve]

Attaboy Antonio......whipping it into shape already.
Will look nice in no time
'
By the way, did you get a free packet of bungers or just the lighter
Regards
Steve

[anttal63]

Attaboy Antonio......whipping it into shape already.
Will look nice in no time
'
By the way, did you get a free packet of bungers or just the lighter
Regards
Steve

oh the trees i can buy when i give the bastards up.

[Jarrod]

I would go with chop and rebuild. I hasn't the taper I would want from the top section. They grow fast and in two-three years you could have a fair better and more inspiring tree. What's time when creating art

other option, cut it off at first branch! Jokes mate

oh and got any other angles?? I see reverse taper in this angle, 20degrees either way?

[anttal63]

I would go with chop and rebuild. I hasn't the taper I would want from the top section. They grow fast and in two-three years you could have a fair better and more inspiring tree. What's time when creating art
other option, cut it off at first branch! Jokes mate

where chop mate ??? dont just sit there and type words to me mate. btw hny!

[Jarrod]

About half way up the top section ther is some branches on the right, cut to use these as the new leader, anglethe cut sloping down from the right to left, and away from what ever front you choose, suggest 20 degrees rotation the left.


I don't have a laptop I can edit the pic on

[anttal63]

thats better mate that i can work with. why keep the chop in the back? no rotation allowed , you have to trust me that this is the best viewing angle. it shows the best flare and movement at the base.

[Bretts]

I was thinking if you need to keep that front then the little branch just below the prune scar might be best as the new leader. Just a bit lower than Jarrods suggestion.

[Jarrod]

Bugger, was hoping that bulge on the left at the first branch could be disguised easily!

I have to say I am slightly against excessive carving where not needed, this tree doesn't need it nor deserve it in my mind. But that's just my opinion.

Happy new year to you too!

[anttal63]

brett you too are keeping the chop away from the viewer. why? you see brett and jezz the trunk is already lunging forward. these new leaders may push the forward growing trunkline too much imo. you guys are close to what im thinking but comprimising for the chop. heres where virts are needed to better convey what you guys see. i do understand the pic limits the impact of the movement. maybe some one out there can virt up what these fellas are saying.

jezz this is what i have been talking about in another thread. i would love to buy something that doesnt need to go in a grow box for 3-5 years and need extensive carving. but it is what it is and so the reverse taper is very fixable.

[kcpoole]

Nice tree Ant
Some great potential there and wonderful to see Lillipilli being used as Bonsai

A quick Virt for you to ponder
I have rotated the tree 10deg to the left ( Dunno if the base will let you), and then carved the trunk down to get taper in the top section. The Apex isd the rebuilt using the existing branches on the RH side of the upper section

Ken

[Jarrod]

Depth is very hard to convey in 2D. Would you consider tilting the tree to the left? I know it's tough when the nebari is good. To the left and back wards would reduce the impact of both reverse taper and forward trunk line

[Bretts]

I don't feel I am compromising although it would take a few years. That leader I am thinking of is pretty small. I might take it easy on the chop untill it increased in size a bit. I can't see a decent carve here and don't know how dead wood goes on these so I will be looking forward to seeing the idea you have.

[anttal63]

kc thanks mate for the kind words and double thanks for the killer virt. this is definately a possability and getting closer. jezz,the tilt to the left is very doable. brett not comp, cool mate im with ya on the carve. im getting a bit sick of carving to just simply blend through. no matter which new leader is chosen, its 3-5 years of growing. so maybe the carve needs to be right in ya face?

[Jarrod]

I have a chainsaw if you wanna bring it over we can have a play?? Lol

hard to do these virts. With out seeing the movement correctly and location of branches hidden in the upper section of the trunk I feel I can not give any more ideas to you. So bring it up one arvo, and let's play!