AusBonsai

this is a juniper which I think is foemina. I started this tree from old nursery stock around 20 yrs ago. I cut every branch off it and grew new branches from the little shoots at the junction of branches and trunk. If I was starting it again today I would have taken a very different approach. About 10 yrs ago I got the sick of it and gave it to a friend of mine. Now he has got the sick of it and given it back. So I am stuck with it once again. I would like to get stuck into it and do a complete make over. I think some small jin and some shari is in order. The tree is 90cm tall. I would like to reduce the height and have just a very few extremely short branches.
Ideas and a virt or 2 would be great if someone could help me out.
With thanks from Craigw

Hi Craig,

I think you are on the right track.

You could cut it down by about 1/3rd, have a jin apex and sharply rake down the remaining branches.

Grant

Heres a story that is way off topic. This morning I was working in a garden just behind the Olinda village, the place is 10 acres. The back section is a paddock just scattered with chestnuts which has a lovely view of the city. I went for a stroll down their and there was a herd of 6 sambar deer grazing in the paddock.
Craigw

gday craig

i think getting the height down is a good idea, but i dont think taking it off the top is right, the trunk doesnt have enough movement or interest to work, in my eyes anyways, would you consider an airlayer? I know it is a risk with juniper and you would have to be very careful in doing it i beleive. possible another alternative is to change the planting angle, take the heavy top section of and turn to jin, and then create a slanting/windswept look with whats left might just work. I cant do virts at the moment but will sketch out my thoughts asap.

Jamie

Hi Jamie, thats an understatement it has no movement or interest but it does have nice bark. I will be very interested to see what you come up with.
Craigw

Hi Craig,
I'm sure this tree has potential locked in there somewhere, is there any chance you could bring it to the next club meeting so we can give it a spin on the turntable and scratch our collaborative heads? In the meantime, if you can photograph it in front of a plain background, I'd be more than happy to try a virtual or 2 as well.

Cheers,
Mojo

Thanks Mojo, will do on all fronts.
Craigw

Craig, this could be a fun heavy bending challange... I reckon we could tweak it enough for interest!

G,day Craig similar situation. This is what I did Just a thought.

Cheers Pup

Hi Jarrod I have some rolls of heavy wire if you feel like it I am up for it. The club is going to have raffia at the next meeting to. Other wise I was thinking about carving deeply right down the trunk.
Craigw

the apex seems a little strange to me--I would remove or jin one and reduce the volume of the other two or so top branches --------- jin the bottom three or four branches(making each jin quite short)-trying to keep as much height as possible and try to make it look like it has reached for the sky for many years.---but then again---------

----------and then put it in a larger more shallow tray---

Gday Craig,
A bit of a virt, branches bent down, height reduced and a crown on top

And Side by side

Sorry, I don't get what the problem is. Graceful, aged trunk, just a bit overpowered by the foliage. Maybe just thin and possibly shorten the pads, get the branches a bit cranky, resolve the triple-branching top. Fine tree, nicely potted. I wouldn't lose any height, because the branches are all high as it is. Trees don't need to be exaggerated or dramatic to be good - subtle and graceful is sometimes more difficult to carry off. I like it.

Gavin