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For the most part junipers are not trees, their shrubs. Most of them grow very prostrate, or grow very columnar. Those that grow protrate tend to have apexes that spider in about 5 different diections. The trunks while staying close to the ground will get thick, but will be thick for someway out from the base. If one were to style a tree say 20" tall the trunk may be as large at 20" away from the base as at the base. Sometimes there just isn't enough foliage at that point to make the proper apex, so the stub is left a couple inches long and skinned back for a jinned apex.When done correctly it can look fairly good, but I agree it is overdone.

The columnar type junipers, foemina and hollywood, classic junipers for Formal subjects are sometimes sought after for thier large trunks. When the trunks get to the proper size, the trunk is also large at the appropriate place where the apex is going to be. The only answer sometimes is to cut through half way and break the trunk from front to back. Create a lightning struck apex and carve some taper in the trunk. Too bad these junipers didn't heal like Bald cypress, I am sure there would be more green top formal upright junipers out there if they did.

Regards, Al

18-Oct-2004	#17
bonsaial1 Greybeard Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Fresno, CA Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 13SH Posts: 5,247	For the most part junipers are not trees, their shrubs. Most of them grow very prostrate, or grow very columnar. Those that grow protrate tend to have apexes that spider in about 5 different diections. The trunks while staying close to the ground will get thick, but will be thick for someway out from the base. If one were to style a tree say 20" tall the trunk may be as large at 20" away from the base as at the base. Sometimes there just isn't enough foliage at that point to make the proper apex, so the stub is left a couple inches long and skinned back for a jinned apex.When done correctly it can look fairly good, but I agree it is overdone. The columnar type junipers, foemina and hollywood, classic junipers for Formal subjects are sometimes sought after for thier large trunks. When the trunks get to the proper size, the trunk is also large at the appropriate place where the apex is going to be. The only answer sometimes is to cut through half way and break the trunk from front to back. Create a lightning struck apex and carve some taper in the trunk. Too bad these junipers didn't heal like Bald cypress, I am sure there would be more green top formal upright junipers out there if they did. Regards, Al __________________ Real men don't wear coats with "happi" in the title.