Hawthorn Root Problem

Hi Wabashene

Please tell me the reason why, you decided to not start up, building crown, already 4 years ago.
And how you plan to make the lower branches to be fatter, and thinner furter up, to the top.

Kind regards Yvonne

Hi everybody,
here is the picture I promised last night.
It's a close up of a large wound on one of mine Hawthorn shohin. Last season I allowed one of the new shoot to grow for one season and then I cut it right back.



A: Is the line of the original wound.
B: Is the new wound line after just one season.
I am sure that this year new small shoots will appear around that new and old wound line and than I will do just the same as last year. Closing the wound slowly and making it look more natural, with smaller wounds that are in proportion to the size of this small tree!
I think, that when possible, this is a better solution than just carving for the sake of carving! Just take your time to try to close the wounds on your Hawthorn as far as possible with this natural technique. It is not that hard and you can do it will you are working on the ramification over the next 4 or 5 years! And if it dont work out in the end you have at least saved the tree from a lot of stress, because the sap flows around that overly large wound were allowed to keep on flowing strong because of these sacrifice shoots. I think it is a great option to try out wile you are shaping the rest of the tree!
Cheers,
Hans van Meer.

Hi Yvonne,

I've basically gone back to a few key branches low down on a solid trunk in order to build a tree structure from the bottom up which is how it is usually done as I understand it.

Generally, on most types of tree the top is more vigorous and will grow faster than the bottom so forming the apex is the last piece of the puzzle - not the first.

Hi Hans,

Thanks for the input.

I have been letting shoots grow freely from the base at the back but trimmed them off the other day.

I will probably let them grow freely this year , as you suggest.

I can already see buds forming after 1 week of 6-8 DegC weather in UK South.

This tree is a bit of a mess really but I dug it and kept it alive so will carry on with it for a while yet.

I have smaller/better collected hawthorns that are ramifying very well.

I also can't this being styled as a "hawthorn" - when I figure out how to style it that is.



TimR

wabashene wrote:


Hi Hans,

Thanks for the input.

I have been letting shoots grow freely from the base at the back but trimmed them off the other day.

I will probably let them grow freely this year , as you suggest.

I can already see buds forming after 1 week of 6-8 DegC weather in UK South.

This tree is a bit of a mess really but I dug it and kept it alive so will carry on with it for a while yet.

I have smaller/better collected hawthorns that are ramifying very well.

I also can't this being styled as a "hawthorn" - when I figure out how to style it that is.



TimR

That's good to hear! Let us know how you get along with closing that wound! And dont give up on the poor little tree because it's a bit off a mess at this present point. It makes it all the more fulfilling if you succeed to make something beautiful out of it!
Cheers,
Hans van Meer.

Made the decision to take the top off this.

Looks like I may need to book a slot at the Burrs Carving Clinic as I can see a bit more potential in this collected tree now.

But which way round I wonder?
:-)

thks

timR

Hi, what direction did you decide to take the tree, how has it progressed? Thanks

Hi Bobby,

Only just saw this reply sorry.

Still pretty much unchanged although I have started training a potential leader  by notching and pulling up the red circled branch with cable ties.

I think the front showing the hollow is favourite and I keep debating whether it should be carved through to get a sort of split tree thing going on.

I haven't done much big style with my trees this year apart from keeping them healthy and well tended.

Gave them all a good rest actually.

Have got a bit paranoid after killing a much loved Japanese White Pine last year to be honest.

Thks

timR

Hi Tim, thanks for the reply, i stumbled across this thread while researching threads for my own Hawthorn so was interested to see how it turned out.

Im no expert but i prefer the image on the right as the front. IMHO i wouldnt take the carved area deeper, i think if you do plan to used the carved area as a front, you need to make it look more natural, IMHO the lines/edges are a little smooth/straight and uniform if thats the right word. if was mine, i'd reduce the straight taper less bit at the top maybe further, to a lower leader than what you had in mind. its just my thoughts, dont do anything drastic without thinking through.

Cheers buddy

Hi,

I also like the the other front and am covering myself as I am also training a potential leader that side as well :-)

The big hollow is where I took out 2 extra big chop scars and a high root (as described earlier/above) and, yes, it would need a good bit of work to look anywhere near convincing.

A job for an expert methinks!

thks