Sometimes I work on nursery trees, sometimes I work on client’s trees……and sometimes if I’ve been a really good boy I get to work on my own trees. Hopefully these regular visits will give you an insight into what goes on behind closed doors……….
Studio Stories – Three small Junipers styled and for sale
The winter period provides us with an opportunity to select material from the sales benches and carry out styling/improvement work. This work is fitted in between repottings and other general tasks.
This time three small Junipers were selected. The tall Juniper had become “leggy”. A new trunk line was selected and the original trunk was made into deadwood. Branches were thinned out or removed and what remained was wired and positioned.
The first of the smaller Junipers had also become too heavy at the top with weeping foliage hanging down. Once again it needed some drastic thinning out.
Shari work was carried out on the trunk and then the tree was totally wired. Once the branches are positioned it’s surprising how compact the image has become.
The second of the small Junipers also has a heavy top but has other problems lower down the trunk where two strong branches emerge very close together. Decisions have to be made and then jins/shari are used to camouflage the pruning scars and improve the flow/taper in the trunk.
The remaining branches are thinned out, wired and repositioned. This tree has really improved with a more compact and full image.
The trees will now be allowed to grow well to aid recovery from the styling process and to fill out the new images. The new growth will be controlled to refine and develop the image further. These trees should progress well next year ……..assuming of course that they remain with us……….