juniper itoigawa de-wired

I took off the wires on this tree today, more wiring to be done. Please ignore the temporary pot   as I am still searching for a suitable one!

It is difficult for me to come up with some alternitive for you. I basically really like the naturalness of the design and if this is what you are shooting for you have hit the nail on the head. I have seen hundreds of Junipers in the Mountains that look like this one. However if you are looking for something a little more bonsai-like in some sort of quasi recognizable style you need to understand that this particular tree seems conflicted between several possible styles.

Hi Vance,

Thank you for your advise. My goal is to achieve a semi cascade style but at the same time must remain natural.
I have noticed faults on some of the branch placements causing the tree to be unbalanced or conflicts.
Of course, we can always change the planting angle of the tree and change the style completely. But for now I'm planning to stay with this style with possible amendments. Below are pics of the tree in all different angels for your suggestions. Many thanks   

Hi,
the bark appears a bit un-natural - have you sanded it?
it may be the light you took the picture under but the unwired tree doesnt look to have such a good colour to the foliage as it used to -, especially on the branches on the lower left - they now appear more yellowy than the rest of the tree, but it may be the light, hard to tell. if the deep green foliage has turned paler i'd be concentrating on finding out whats changed - check the roots first to make sure everything is all right, then look at your feeding as the tree hasnt made any new inner shoots as if it is an itoigawa there should be loads of new inner shoots in the crotches and branch forks.

The cascade works but I think for it to work and look natural the apex needs to be a lot lower, either compacted or reduced, but i'd put major styling on hold until the tree is bursting with new shoots so you can chase the foliage back up the bare branches

lots of good bits to work with, have fun with it

marcus

Hi Marcus,

Thank you for some positive feedback.

Yes I did sanded the bark, but got a bit carried away so sanded it too much.

The pictures of the tree with wires on are the most recent pics. I repotted the tree last year and was horrified to find so much vine weevil larvae in the soil. Will check the soil again as some foliage are slightly yellow perhaps it was due to our wet winter.

The tree did produce some inner shoots at the crotches, but I've trimmed those off thinking it may suck away the energy if left on (its my first Itoigawa)    

As for feeding I am using Green Dream pellets, fish emulsion and seaweed extract (every 2 weeks) that Mr Steve T**ley gave me for free great man!!

You wired the branches but I dont see much movement in them. If you should give them some movement in the horizontal plane, it will bring the foliage closer to the trunk also.
I am not sure about the lowest branch and the second trunk.