Collected American larch styling options

[Soldano666]

This trees is 3 years recovered from collection, some minor wiring in 2016 and got its first real repot spring 2017. It grew unchecked all year except keeping shoots in check no other major work was done. Now I'm ready to take it further, anyone have suggestions, advice, see something I dont or perhaps a virt on where to take this.
Projected front.
side a
back
Side b
And a video to give you an idea on branching, I know the top should be re grown due to the thickness of some of the upper branches, ive learned now to keep those in check after recovery so they dont get to big to quick. lessons, lessons... Learning...

 

[RobertB]

Less branches and bring down. Looks like a good literati. How tall is it?

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

You definitely chose the same front I would have chosen.

I would not ''go literati'' keep majority of branches, at least for a while. Keep options open.
I would wire the trunk to set the line of the trunk, disguise the chop point some, the front hides the chop or broken point where the leader changed.
I would wire to lay out the branches, get them to "follow the leader". Lower branches should go out, at the same angle from trunk on both sides of the tree, not one up & one down. Lower branches more horizontal or down, your design choice, upper branches can reach for the sky a little more. Boring formula stuff, but the tree has some quirks, it won't look boring.

Thin congested areas, not too much. I did not notice any big problems, the lower branches there is a tangle looking at the front photo, bring a little order to that mess, don't worry about bar branches or other ''formula'' things,

Just get it wired out, and let it grow a while - then perhaps a different design will hit you. But as it is, it is a nice start. Enough weird angles that once wired out, it won't be boring.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I like that this trunk has taper, rare in American larch. This is a good find, good eye.

Keep the lowest branches, let them extend even, if for no reason other than to thicken the lower trunk even more. Sacrifice branches, if you specifically want one that you will later cut off, should go out, then when beyond where it could shade the ''Keepers'', bend it straight up, like a secondary trunk. If it takes off, it will continue to thicken the lower trunk.

 

[sorce]

How pliable are those branches still?

What size no longer moves well?

Seems in a position to only NEED to bring down a couple, but only for the first trunk exit angle. Or out until the secondaries if they will become hard to move next year (Like that one big branch)

NEED...Cuz it IS to nice a specimen to push any further than absolutely necessary.

Seems all the space will fill itself in just on a lower plane.

It's just building proper branching after that!

Slick.

Sorce

 

[twisted trees]

Good advice. When wiring down open up the branches to make room for ramifications. Your front looks good and I see a nice informal upright in there. Give it time and the trunk will thicken and become rough. Start exposing surface roots.

Nice start.

 

[Soldano666]

How pliable are those branches still?


Sorce

I should still be able move every branch on this thing. Thanks for the advice @Leo in N E Illinois and @twisted trees i knew it had more potential than to go literati. I got the branches set down quite a bit last year when I wired it, I just never got around to it after its repot this spring.

 

[twisted trees]

Oh, and wash that trunk. It looks, ewww, green.

 

[Soldano666]

I have this guy too who made a phenomanal recovery this year. That leader doubled in size and roots pumping out the holes of the bin its in. I wish id put some wire on it earlier...

 

[Soldano666]

Oh, and wash that trunk. It looks, ewww, green.

Yes i know. My auto water kept things too wet this year. I lot of my maples suffered with curled leaves

 

[Soldano666]

Update... Some slight branch pruning and almost fully wired.I like the front rotated just a smidge to the left. Theres still a few problem branches in there, but I can live with it like this for the season

 

[LanceMac10]

Phheewwww!!!!! I clicked on expecting the worst.....SURVIVOR!!!!

 

[Wilson]

Glad to see this one was safe from the ravaging rodents!

 

[Wilson]

View attachment 182228


Phheewwww!!!!! I clicked on expecting the worst.....SURVIVOR!!!!

Haha! Good timing!

 

[Soldano666]

View attachment 182228


Phheewwww!!!!! I clicked on expecting the worst.....SURVIVOR!!!!

The voles diddnt touch a single larch of the bazillion I have. They went ham on everything else tho. Mugos are ravaged. and there is about 20 in the ground still under snow that I have no idea about yet.

 

[LanceMac10]

I may be one or two trees light come spring, proper.....sucks. Brother Johnny lost the top trees in the collection last year. I've killed more than a few, way too many.

But the VC kill sucks harder for some reason...but not by much!!!

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I think you need to rescue some mean old cats.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Found 3 field mice in the sticky traps where i store my pre-bonsai on the farm. It is a start.

 

[Soldano666]

Found 3 field mice in the sticky traps where i store my pre-bonsai on the farm. It is a start.

I'm glad they got stuck, I hope they died a slow painful death, maybe even froze, starved and died of dehydration at the same time. Maybe even some dysentery to boot.

 

[Soldano666]

Update.... after a slight trim today. Bout to contemplate pots and start working on some options for my spring repot. Thinking a gritty dark unglazed round with wonky, torn, bacon lipped edge. Similar to the one posted. Input welcomed