Cornus kousa Progression

[Jzack605]

I’ll keep updating because why not. I’m pretty excited on this tree. I peaked in the canopy for the first time in awhile and was pleasantly surprised with much thicker shoots than I anticipated, up to 1/2” thick. I have been fertilizing full strength once every two weeks and applied a slow release fertilizer mid spring and again yesterday. I think I’ll cut back to 1/2 strength on the liquid fert and stop end of September. Dormant season I’m going to do a few selective pruning cuts and plan on applying @Walter Pall naturalistic method next season. So I’m interested if he has any input. The year after next I’ll do a repot and reduce the roots some more.

 

[just.wing.it]

Good growth!
That's awesome!

 

[Jzack605]

Here’s an update. Did some wiring and guying. Moved out of protected spot.

would love some critique.

 

[Jzack605]

Right now plan is to continue along with the broom style. The large stem that did not bud out I may work some deadwood styling from. It would be a large cut that may be difficult to hide depending on the ultimate front. So I may see if I can work with that piece somehow.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Good growth. Id give it another season, like you said, to grow strong.

Im not sure you have a broom style here. It looks nore like clump style to me.

 

[TN_Jim]

Right now plan is to continue along with the broom style. The large stem that did not bud out I may work some deadwood styling from. It would be a large cut that may be difficult to hide depending on the ultimate front. So I may see if I can work with that piece somehow.

Have big C. kousa in the front yard...ponder to put some branches into a pot.
I agree with Orion, not sure looking broom presently. If you wanted sumo broom, first seems I’d have to admit I know shit about bonsai like this, but the three trunks are an issue as is presently -you need taper for broom or perhaps..

If it’s healthy you could do some work now and save time in the future. Other people know more about this than me.

Regardless, to provide some critique, carve/deadwood/whatever, I’d remove the trunk with green today. Look forward to others thoughts.
Thanks

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I see this as an interesting trunk line for an informal broom - if thats a thing - if you want to go that route.



Planting angle may need to tilt forward. You can incorporate deadwood uro's low where the big trunks get removed. Would be one ugly, beastly, pockmarked tree low with beautiful flowers and a healthy looking canopy creating contrast visually.

 

[Jzack605]

I would be cool with a clump no doubt. That is making a little more sense to try to go that route now that I look at it.

@Orion_metalhead and @TN_Jim, both those require some larger cuts which I would be concerned about healing over if they ever did. Is the straightness of that one particular trunk the concern?

 

[TN_Jim]

Is the straightness of that one particular trunk the concern?

Yes, thats part of it. It too lacks significant taper as is. Also, it appears to run somewhat parallel to the opposing trunk at some angles. Should you remove it, maybe making it a hollow would be a better alternative to healing it over -as Orion was saying, it is already pretty gnarly, why not accentuate this quality...

 

[Jzack605]

I could cut it down to that one branch I have guyed, there is a branch I was training as a new leader right at the initial cut.

 

[zekelogan]

This is awesome! Thanks so much for following through, too. I have two babies that I collected last season from underneath a big Momma. They made it through the winter and I'm super excited. Can't wait for the first flowers one of these years!

 

[Jzack605]

Not a problem!

I’ll put some more updates soon. The trees looking great in my opinion. I’m anxious to get it into a smaller pot but that will happen next year I guess. I’m toying with doing the Walter Paul hedging method on this tree, but not sure yet. I don’t think she’ll flower this year, most of the landscape kousa’s are in full bloom now or starting to senesce. It’s possible it’s a later bloomer as I don’t know the cultivar.

ah hell here’s a shitty pic I took a few days ago just to document. Spare me the photo criticism noble people of bonsai nut, I know.

 

[Jzack605]

Here is the tree after work today. I did the root work the first time around now two years ago so repeated that and worked the top again. Removed the big dead piece and cleaned up a few of the flat cuts so they hopefully heal with some taper. I reduced the grow pot size and root mass. I’d like to reduce the roots some more but there are some bigger roots I’d rather do with at least one more stage. It’s planted much better now in my opinion showing off the nebari. Probably a lot of work, but the tree has been growing strong. It’s got a good protected area to wait until temps are warmer

 

[Newish in Oregon]

Here is the tree after work today. I did the root work the first time around now two years ago so repeated that and worked the top again. Removed the big dead piece and cleaned up a few of the flat cuts so they hopefully heal with some taper. I reduced the grow pot size and root mass. I’d like to reduce the roots some more but there are some bigger roots I’d rather do with at least one more stage. It’s planted much better now in my opinion showing off the nebari. Probably a lot of work, but the tree has been growing strong. It’s got a good protected area to wait until temps are warmer View attachment 350709View attachment 350710View attachment 350711View attachment 350712

How's the tree looking now?

 

[Tieball]

I’m curious too. How does this tree look now?

 

[Jzack605]

It’s doing well. Had one of the stubs/future leads die but I was thinking about removing it anyway.

Apologies for the quick images.

 

[BobbyLane]

Very course in growth arent they, could it benefit from a hard cut back this summer? The primary branches are thick enough IMHO

 

[Jzack605]

Currently I’ve been just letting it grow pretty freely through the summer and then a fairly hard cutback in dormancy.

But yea biggest issue with this species is the leaves are big and pretty dense. I’d like the primary’s to get a little thicker IMO.

 

[minkes]

Any update? Nice progress

 

[Jzack605]

I’ll try and get some pics at some point. It’s still alive and doing well, probably due for its dormant prune. I’d say it’s in a “holding state” as I haven’t really had the cajones to do much other than a dormant prune and some summers I will cut back new growth.

So no idea if defoliating will produce smaller leaves (doubt it) or ramification.

A perfect scenario would be if I could develop the “chickens feet” you often see on mature dogwood but I’m not sure yet how to encourage that. I think that would create some great ramification and a nice winter silhouette. I’m not confident this will ever be a show stopper during the growing season.