Help ME Choose a Front for My New JBP

Hi All,

Please help me choose a front for my new JBP. It is a ten year old tree I recently purchased from Dan Robinson, who grew it from seed. I also need help deciding what to do with the stump currently at the top of the tree. Virtuals would be appreciated.

Option 1



Option 2



Option 3



Option 4

Pic 2 or 3 (2 preferred) would seem to be the best front now. However, it's a bit early, I think, to definitively choose a front for this tree.

I seem to detect some reverse taper at or just after the second bend, tho that may be an optical illusion. But, I think I'd chop the tree there, anyway.

Hey Jim,

There is no reverse taper, just an illusion. The tree is pretty "taper-less" from bottom to top. I was wondering about just styling it as a bunjin. Your suggestion is certainly another option. Either way, it takes care of the taper issue, that's for sure.

Blessings,
Tim

I'd say nr 2.

But to me, it still has some time ahead, there's no hurry, it could be nr 3, or nr 7...

I think it's a very nice young one.

Pic #4 is the only position presented where the apex is leaning toward the front. If you were to take that as the front, I would consider loosing the last segment and turning that top branch into the new lead. As for the lack of taper, you might even consider cutting back even further and allowing the tree to form some taper by redirecting the growth to a much lower branch. If you were to do that, then the decision to choose a "front" would have to be delayed till further on in the development.

Each one of the red lines identifies potential lines for cropping the trunk (the cross is actually two seperate possible cuts. (samples to follow)



forbey

Hi Tim...

I saw you at the Garden as you were checking out when you purchased this tree... Knowing the size of the tree I'm not sure you'd do it any service by trying to style it into bunjin. You may want to consider putting it back out into the ground and letting some of the top grow wildly again... while working on maintaining the lower branches so you can get even more size to the trunk. Then take it down as Jim suggests. Many of the JBP's that Daniel has grown from seed on display in the garden were field worked for decades to develop their trunks. The tree isn't even half way to where it could be. If your goal is to have something even similar to the size of Daniel's displayed trees then into the ground it should go..

If you are good with having a nice tree of smaller stature... then chop and develop a new top.

Kindest regards,

Victrinia

Jay Gaydosh wrote:Pic #4 is the only position presented where the apex is leaning toward the front.
forbey

Er... Sorry, I don't agree with you.

The so-called "apex" is actually a 2-3 mm trhick branch. Turn it round for two or three weeks, and if it's sunny and the tree is healthy, it will lean the other way round.

I do think there's something nice to do with it, but I'll quote Jacques Louis, if you permit : "However, it's a bit early, I think, to definitively choose a front for this tree".

Yep

Here are 4 possible reductions. (Please forgive the crude artwork):













Personally, when I went back to preview my photos, I sort of prefer the third one. It portrays a more contorted, yet realistic presentation. (To ME!)

As in all suggestions, they are just that. What you do with your tree, ultimately must be pleasing to you. Just don't stop at the obvious when working within the character of your tree.

Jay

AlainK wrote:

Jay Gaydosh wrote:Pic #4 is the only position presented where the apex is leaning toward the front.
forbey

Er... Sorry, I don't agree with you.

The so-called "apex" is actually a 2-3 mm trhick branch. Turn it round for two or three weeks, and if it's sunny and the tree is healthy, it will lean the other way round.

I do think there's something nice to do with it, but I'll quote Jacques Louis, if you permit : "However, it's a bit early, I think, to definitively choose a front for this tree".

Yep

Absolutely no need to apologize for disagreeing me! I just gave an opinion and as opinions go mine are less experienced than most here. But that never stopped me from posting them!

Jay

AlainK wrote:

Jay Gaydosh wrote:Pic #4 is the only position presented where the apex is leaning toward the front.
forbey

Er... Sorry, I don't agree with you.

The so-called "apex" is actually a 2-3 mm trhick branch. Turn it round for two or three weeks, and if it's sunny and the tree is healthy, it will lean the other way round.

I do think there's something nice to do with it, but I'll quote Jacques Louis, if you permit : "However, it's a bit early, I think, to definitively choose a front for this tree".

Yep

Alain... The "apex" in number 4 is way bigger than a 10th of an inch. The pot is about 350+ mm.... so take your best guess that the branch is likely 20-ish mm and you'd be closer to the truth.

Which means it's ability to bend gracefully with the sun is unlikely....



Victrinia

Jay....

I like reduction #1 if he doesn't want to put it in the ground... and reduction #4 WAY down the road if he does...

V

As a point of reference it's field grown height was well over 2 meters tall... and the trunk is about 7 cm (ish) before the basal flare/nebari.

Overall, there are just too many "S" curves here. It's too "snakey." If it is as large as indicated, think how fat and sassy the base would look if it were cut down -- maybe not so drastically as Jay's last pic, but a bit above that.

Forgive my "artistic skills."

JimLewis wrote:Overall, there are just too many "S" curves here. It's too "snakey." If it is as large as indicated, think how fat and sassy the base would look if it were cut down -- maybe not so drastically as Jay's last pic, but a bit above that.

Forgive my "artistic skills."

Funny, I missed that one, and I like it! But the options actually are endless!

Jay

Victrinia Ridgeway wrote:

Alain... The "apex" in number 4 is way bigger than a 10th of an inch. The pot is about 350+ mm.... so take your best guess that the branch is likely 20-ish mm and you'd be closer to the truth.

Which means it's ability to bend gracefully with the sun is unlikely....



Victrinia

Really?... I thought it was much, much smaller. That's a different matter then.

JimLewis wrote:. . . think how fat and sassy the base would look if it were cut down -- maybe not so drastically as Jay's last pic, but a bit above that.

Jim,

I've been around this forum long enough to know you-- you just want to turn this into a shohin!

But it is too big for that. The tree stands about 24-26 inches tall and is about 2.5 inches at the root flare.

My suggestion

[img][/img]

Regards

Gabriel

I WILL GO FOR GABRIEL!!

I have to agree... that's a pretty hot image!

V

Gabriel,

That looks great! Thanks for your work on it!

Tim