Formal upright Dawn redwood in development

[radhatter]

Doesn’t seem to be a lot of examples of this but I’m going for something similar to the giant redwoods.

Started with a big trunk chop and a let an upward pointing branch grow for a year until this spring. Chopped that leader hoping for some budding and got a decently placed new leader to continue that taper. Building the bones for a new apex.

Did a little clean up and bud selection after this photo was taken. Tempted to do a tenjin at the top but it seems like the easy way out. I’d love to get a good full apex going without the broken deadwood look at the top. Thoughts?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Good job.

Getting a tapered formal redwood is a long process and requires a bit of a step away from reality as most mature redwoods have multiple apexes. In fact every time we try to terminate apical growth with a single branch with our Dawn, it will throw up mini apexes in the branches below.

If you are satisfied with the trunk, the best approach might be to let the tree go into the growth phase on top to help smooth the upper taper. Then trim back and let grow again.

When it’s to your satisfaction, cut back the out of scale branches and choose smaller shoots emanating from the apex branch bases. Might have to do this multiple times.

Once the apex grows to satisfaction, be sure to trim all the vertical growth once it forms.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[radhatter]

I’m noticing it wants to create an apex everywhere. Have you seen an effective way to build the final apex on these that looks good/natural?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Yep It’s a challenge, constant pinching back 2-3x a year.

So one has to decide first if what you are representing in younger trees or gnarly old growth.

Since there are few images available of the the old growth dawns in China… at least that I can find, perhaps using coast redwoods as a guide would work best.

Below find a number of dawns and coastal images that may help



Cheers
DSD sends