Bald cypress suggestions

[choppychoppy]

So I just unwired this big bald cypress - i obviosly was going for the flat top look since i am in the south i see this all the time on the lakes around here. Suggestions, virts or other comments please. Thanks in advance for any looks.

 

[sorce]

I think by the time you get your apex in order.....that deadwood is gonna look really nice.!

I don't know BC but If be trying to pull the apex forward over the DW.

Good stuff! I like the base. Nice trunk.

Sorce

 

[Txhorticulture]

I also like the base. When they grow on riverbanks they don't make knees, but of course erosion exposes a huge mass of tangled roots.

I think the dead wood is nice looking but I am thinking what happened naturally to the tree to do that? Sliced two thirds of the way down right in half. But in time I bet it looks more natural

 

[sorce]

I also like the base. When they grow on riverbanks they don't make knees, but of course erosion exposes a huge mass of tangled roots.

I think the dead wood is nice looking but I am thinking what happened naturally to the tree to do that? Sliced two thirds of the way down right in half. But in time I bet it looks more natural

I'm gonna start a new thread. I looked something up the other day and uncovered some awesome.
Peep it.

Sorce

 

[choppychoppy]

Thanks - it has only been recently styled at all so it should get better ina few years.

 

[jk_lewis]

When they grow on riverbanks they don't make knees,

Huh. They do in Florida.

 

[choppychoppy]

I am thinking what happened naturally to the tree to do that?

Here are a few pics of naturally occurring lightning damage and of exposed roots. These are just a couple pics but the lighting damage is quite common as I live in one of the more active lighting areas in the country. The black and white photo is a bit tough to see but it almost exactly like what I was going for here. You see this a lot in lakes, swamps and rivers here in the south where a really large lone tree gets hit many times and takes a lot of damage. Enjoy.

 

[Djtommy]

Maybe some rootwork next repot? Its got some strange crossing roots
I like the deathwood

 

[rockm]

So I just unwired this big bald cypress - i obviosly was going for the flat top look since i am in the south i see this all the time on the lakes around here. Suggestions, virts or other comments please. Thanks in advance for any looks.
View attachment 81937

you need to sort out those roots. Don't mistake "natural" with "a visual mess." Many people do.

 

[Txhorticulture]

Huh. They do in Florida.

Not that I've seen I've posted this pic before, erosion usually reveals a tangled network of huge roots. Lots of opinions out there but I think knees are a genetic trait, some populations of Taxodium are more likely than others to get them

These are just a couple pics but the lighting damage is quite common as I live in one of the more active lighting areas in the country.

Lightning damage makes sense. I like it. I think as it developstands Will look even better.

 

[johng]

Hey Choppy... I like your start! The only thing that I see that I might have done differently in on your branches. Since these grow so fast, I might consider chopping the longest branches back to the point that you would like to see them ramify... This will help build taper into your longest branches over time. I hope that makes sense!

 

[johng]

Not that I've seen I've posted this pic before, erosion usually reveals a tangled network of huge roots. Lots of opinions out there but I think knees are a genetic trait, some populations of Taxodium are more likely than others to get them

I think you just need more exposure to BC outside of central TX. I grew up in Houston(there are knees all over the rivers and bayous in Houston) and went school in S.A. at Trinity. I have also lived in La. and SC... and I have traveled much through out the south. BC in central TX are on the very western edge of their distribution and as such, I think show some different traits than they do throughout the majority of their range. What may seem normal to you is atypical for the rest of us.

Rivers are where I see the largest and most prolific knees on BC...to say they don't grow knees on rivers is just misinformation if you are not in the hill country of TX.

 

[rockm]

Not that I've seen I've posted this pic before, erosion usually reveals a tangled network of huge roots. Lots of opinions out there but I think knees are a genetic trait, some populations of Taxodium are more likely than others to get them


Lightning damage makes sense. I like it. I think as it developstands Will look even better.

No, it won't. It will look increasingly confused and ugly. Sorry. I went that route with my first BC two decades ago. Thought it was "cool" until I wound up with a mess of big ugly roots that looked--well--odd.

FWIW, BC knees are not a genetic trait. They are a species capability. Depends on growing conditions and soil--deep water or dry land--no roots, shallower sustained water levels, or water table just under the soil surface--roots. Knees aren't simple upward kinks or loops in roots.

 

[Txhorticulture]

FWIW, BC knees are not a genetic trait. They are a species capability. Depends on growing conditions and soil--deep water or dry land--no roots, shallower sustained water levels, or water table just under the soil surface--roots. Knees aren't simple upward kinks or loops in roots.

Agree to disagree. Lots has been said about this. I'm pretty sure there is no scholarly answer to the question and there has been some research. But if I am wrong tell me where your information comes from. What's your authority for that statement? Or do I just take your word for it?

I think you just need more exposure to BC outside of central TX.

Fair enough I almost typed central texas in my original post but didnt. And I have plenty of exposure to the species. Texas actually has all three species or varieties (however you choose to divide the genus) and I have seen all three in habitat. Taxodium mucronatum is in extreme south texas (only about 100 acres or less and the only place in the United states wheRe it is native - I have a sapling from this population) I lived in Houston for 3 years and have seen native stands of bald cypress and pond cypress in east texas. And I am most familiar and most fond of the central texas populations. To me those are the quintessential bald cypress.

I like choppy's tree. To me, right now, it's a decent representation of the species as I have encountered it. I guess I would like more branches. I think it's fine to make a 'flat top' make it flat with branches. Or style it like John nakas montezuma cypress like a giant sequoia. The redwoods are cousins of taxodium afterall.

 

[choppychoppy]

Its been only about 18 months since it was initially chopped to a telephone pole in a box removing 90% of top and bottom of tree. I will fix the small crossing roots and lower it a bit on next repot. I agree that it definitely needs to ramify so thats what I will be working on over the next year or so. Thanks for all the advice and here in FL i see knees on cypress pretty much anywhere there is water and trees - inter-coastal waterways, rivers lakes, swamps - everywhere. This was about 6 months after initial cut down.

 

[jk_lewis]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypress_knee

I'm in the stability camp since BC have no "taproot."

 

[rockm]

Agree to disagree. Lots has been said about this. I'm pretty sure there is no scholarly answer to the question and there has been some research. But if I am wrong tell me where your information comes from. What's your authority for that statement? Or do I just take your word for it?



Fair enough I almost typed central texas in my original post but didnt. And I have plenty of exposure to the species. Texas actually has all three species or varieties (however you choose to divide the genus) and I have seen all three in habitat. Taxodium mucronatum is in extreme south texas (only about 100 acres or less and the only place in the United states wheRe it is native - I have a sapling from this population) I lived in Houston for 3 years and have seen native stands of bald cypress and pond cypress in east texas. And I am most familiar and most fond of the central texas populations. To me those are the quintessential bald cypress.

I like choppy's tree. To me, right now, it's a decent representation of the species as I have encountered it. I guess I would like more branches. I think it's fine to make a 'flat top' make it flat with branches. Or style it like John nakas montezuma cypress like a giant sequoia. The redwoods are cousins of taxodium afterall.

You'd do yourself a favor if you can find a copy of a pretty definitive work on BC call "Bald Cypress, The Tree Unique, The Wood Eternal" by Clair Brown, who is an expert on Louisiana plants. The book, which is co-authored by a number of researchers from Louisiana and Texas, is about as definitive as it gets when it comes to BC. It notes that BC push knees in only certain situations (and the ability isn't limited to genetically different trees). There are distinct forms of basal flutes depending on the environment. High water produces wider, deeper fluting and no knees. Shallower water produces a different type of base buttress and some knees.