is this blue star juniper dying?

[potatofarmer]

(as promised):

I previously pruned away crotch growth, including direct bottom and top growth, leaving the ends of the branches untouched. The remaining primary branches and their secondary growth is what the tree is focusing on now.

The foliage remaining for primary branching exists on all planes for the left/right/back style, structure, and aesthetic.

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Likely to keep the lowest branch on the trunk for a while as extra resources and thickening of trunk until decided removal

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Removed interior crotch growth from the canopy area to allow in air and light and promote development of the primary and secondary structure of the interior for the future apex
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I have only two of this species of Juniper (this one being the smaller and younger of the two) and I am very much still learning its growth and foliage. So far, the structure is forming as I have planned and it seems to like the fertilizer regiment I give it (fish emulsion in water as foliar soak and soil soaking 2x per month + BIOGOLD pellets added and changed out once per 1 month to a month and a half). Nearly all my trees are on this regiment and so far all growth is impressive and as expected.

very nice conical shape. i see what you mean with the pruning which will reveal the branch structure more. how long did you need to wait for it to look good after the pruning? or did it look decent right away after?

do you notice it is creating new buds from the wood at all?

 

[potatofarmer]

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im not going to make a new thread. any opinions on this material? Is it worth it?

 

[Deleted member 47471]

very nice conical shape. i see what you mean with the pruning which will reveal the branch structure more. how long did you need to wait for it to look good after the pruning? or did it look decent right away after?

do you notice it is creating new buds from the wood at all?

What you are asking for is difficult to quantify, despite my constant assessing and reassessing of 70+ trees on a weekly (sometimes daily) basis. By virtue of simply doing the routine maintenance of cleaning out/crotch growth removal and branch selection, the overall tree moves forward, but in terms of rate of maturity and lignification of the remaining branching/structure, it is hard to say. The more I come to understand the harmony and relationship between artist/practitioner and tree, the more I understand my impatience towards the tree in its response to the work I have done. I still have a mental hang up on the concept of removing foliage tips and the hormonal response on secondary and tertiary branching (interior structure). I'll attempt to share an update today on the tree I've shared on your thread for comparison to the Spring and Summer in recent months.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

very nice conical shape. i see what you mean with the pruning which will reveal the branch structure more. how long did you need to wait for it to look good after the pruning? or did it look decent right away after?

do you notice it is creating new buds from the wood at all?

There is some foliage tip growth along with maturing of the scaffolding / structural branching. Taller now and more mature than Spring. Compares to Spring, the growth is fast: