New Hemlock

Earl

Here is a pic of a hemlock I have had for awhile and finally decided to style.

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Earl

Here is the after shot. I understand hemlocks are very slow growers so it might take awile to fill out. I had three problems once I opened up the foilage. First, the right side is competely devoid of branches, so the branches you see are pulled around from the front or back; not a great solution. Second, the top stub. It is really non-descript. Third, there was interesting movement in the bottom of the tree but not the top.

So! Any suggestions on how to improve it? I just wired it yesterday so I can certainly still change the angle or branches. I tried several times to keep it at its orginal angle but that, too, seemed boring because it goes straight up out of the ground then a big slow boring bend.

Earl

Forgot to attach the pic. Here it is more as an informal upright

Earl

Finally, the way it sits in the pot at its orginal angle.

jhill

Hi Earl,
It is definitely on its way to being a nice tree. I like the informal the best.IMHO
John

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Earl

Thanks John. I think I agree with you.

WHERE ARE THE REST OF YOU?? I really would like some comments or suggestions. 45 people have looked at it. Some must have ideas pro or con... and I'd love to hear them.

TreeBay

It's always difficult when a tree lacks enough movement to be informal, but has a kink like this that makes it not quite ramrod straight.

Usually low kinks like this reflect a complementary imperfection in the rootage. The taproot probably took a hard left at the bottom of the growing container.

Trees will tend to straighten as they grow, because the trunk will thicken a bit and the movement will be less noticeable. Trees like this are often put into forest groups or groves while they outgrow their problems.

A piece of rigid rod (rebar) and wire could be used to straighten the trunk, perhaps along with a branch splitter to make that area more flexible.

Rotating the tree to orient the bend directly toward or away from the viewer will further reduce its apparent movement

Conversely shortening the tree to 1/2 its current height, for example, would make the movement appear to be more significant if a true informal upright is desired.

Regards,

Matt

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Earl

Thanks, Matt, for the feedback. I wish more people offered their opinions so it didn't all fall on you. Nevertheless, your info is always appreciated and I learn alot. I did try to imagine cutting the tree way down but just couldn' see any good shape with the branches. So I am experimenting with other fronts. Putting the kink directly forward or backward doesn't work because of the the rest the trunk...it looks weird. But actually rotating it just a little is a possibility in putting more movement into it.

So thanks for the help.

GaryS

It's a toughy. You could try and split and straighten the trunk and make it into a Formal upright but even with a bender and some rod it will take a while. I have some Shimpaku junipers out in the field that have the dreaded bend and a 45 degree angle that just don't make good single specimens. Like was mentioned before, they go well in forest plantings.

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