I got stuck In Today, and now im stuck, need advice on juni

[Gareth]

Hi Guys,

I got to work on this juniper today and now I'm stumped as to what to do and where to go with it next, i had a rough design in mind, but it was more of a have a crack kind of day. This thing was only cheap so i thought i would practice both my raffia wrapping and other things on it.

I need some direction guys, i am open to anything, this is a learning project for me, my first juniper and a chance to sharpen my skills on EVERYTHING.

So, please feel free to suggest anything, however radical it may be.

Below are some pics so you can see what i have to work with and my progress so far, i realize that some branches are opposite each other (especially the second and third) and i was going to use one as an anchor for the wire for the other, owing to the fact i had to wrap 3 lots of 4mm wire to the trunk in order to bend it.

Trunk is around 20-25mm at the base and it is approximately 40cm high.

[Andrew Legg]

Hey Gareth,

I see two potential things for this tree. One would be a Father/Son type dual trunk using the bottom branch and the main trunk. This would mean losing or jinning back the second two branches. Second option would be to jin all of those bottom branches and do something by getting good movement into the main trunk and take it from there. It is good that you have wired it all as you can get the jins to set into place before killing them off. I am really not sure what else to do with it.

Cheers,

Andrew

[Gareth]

A Virt Perhaps Andrew?

I was thinking that i can use at least one of the branches down low and train into an informal upright, but im struggling to find a good branch arrangement

I have PLENTY of small branches to grow out and use as branches further up the trunk if need be.

[Gareth]

Come on guys i need some help here, go nuts with design im all ears

[Handy Mick]

To be honest Gareth, I don't see to much in what you have, i mean using all of those branches you have jute and wire on.
What i would do is take those large side branches off or to a stub to use as a jin and cut the top off after putting in some movement in the trunk, you have some good leaders there and plenty of new shoots. The reason being those large sideies are way to big.
Sorry mate i know its not what you want to hear, but its what i would do.

Regards Mick

[Gareth]

Hi Mick,

Actually this is exactly what i wanted to hear, i needed advice in order to turn this ordinary tree into something.

I was thinking the same thing, as i just couldnt see a way to use any of the branches, im going to wire the branches into place and then JIN them, and that way if i want to get rid of the later on, i can cut them off.

Or, can i jin then and then wire them into place? as it would better help me see the direction on the tree.

[Tony Bebb]

Hi Gareth

Totally in agreeance with the comments so far. As they are all heavy branches with none low enough to trunks, I would not use them in the design unless as jins, and bend the main trunk as much as you want/can and grow and use the branches off that trunk. I would also jin and shorten those low branches then wire as desired if you want to have jins. This as you said will give a good design start.

Enjoy

Tony

[miyagiman]

what about pushing, winding & twisting all these branches down & around one another, and squash it into a compacted wild shape. you may have to alter some of the wire & raffia to do this, even splitting some of them lengthwise to make them more pliable. jins & sharis can come later. cheers, miyagiman.

[Handy Mick]

Gareth, you are always better to try something before cutting off completely, if you are to do some major bending and jinning or what not i would wait till winter any way. Time to think.

Mick