Western Juniper progression

[ponderingsage]

I collected this western Juniper in May 2022.
Below is the day I collected it. I was able to get the entire pocket lifted out !


Below is the tree two years later and recovering well. (for some reason in my yard the foliage turned more bluish green than green.)


Here is the opposite side, before doing the initial styling.



Here is the lowest branch after I set it.


Here’s the tree after the initial work. The nature of how the tree grew it has a lot of branches emanating from the top section of the trunk.


Below the tree after I repotted it last spring, letting the top grow regain strength.
It was a nice surprise to find that twisting root.


Next two photos are the tree a few months later Midsummer last year.



I’m planning on not trimming it this year at all to see if I can get it to be more dense. Right now, the foliage is a bit leggy.
I wanted it to get healthy when it was in the post collection box, so I’m not sure if I over fertilized it or what, but I’m gonna lay off the fertilizer except light organic cakes this spring. Anybody have advice for why that may have happened? Also, the end of the extensions on some branches are reverting back to juvenile foliage. Do you think that’s a finalization issue as well? The other factor would be that my backyard is well shaded by two large deciduous trees.
Thanks!

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Also, the end of the extensions on some branches are reverting back to juvenile foliage

That means it's not out of a stressed state yet and that pruning would weaken it. I've had junipers collected that did this for 3 years before they finally returned back to normal growth, after which they took off.
Yours doesn't look particularly strong to be honest, and the juvenile foliage conversion reenforces that idea to me.

 

[bwaynef]

I have found that junipers are a lot more forgiving when they're in full sun. I don't know how hot Boise gets in summer, but you might make some allowance for heat when it comes to full sun if you see that's necessary.

And while I can't make out the pad structure on all the pads, the lower pad after you set it still needs work. Rearranging the pad structure might allow for more sun light hitting the foliage as well, but its infinitely more sustainable long-term without the spaghetti.

I think your tree's biggest issue is sunlight though.

 

[ponderingsage]

Thanks for the replies.
Yeah, the shade is nice when we have a few weeks over 100 in the summer. I figured that sunlight was the issue, l can do some rearranging of trees, but it is hard to avoid the tree shade…maybe l will
focus on firs

 

[ponderingsage]

That means it's not out of a stressed state yet and that pruning would weaken it. I've had junipers collected that did this for 3 years before they finally returned back to normal growth, after which they took off.
Yours doesn't look particularly strong to be honest, and the juvenile foliage conversion reenforces that idea to me.

I have a tree that is 5 yrs from collection that still has the juvenile foliage.
I agree, not my healthiest tree, l will just let it run for a few growing seasons.
Thanks for the feedback.

 

[rollwithak]

I have a tree that is 5 yrs from collection that still has the juvenile foliage.
I agree, not my healthiest tree, l will just let it run for a few growing seasons.
Thanks for the feedback.

Still, pretty cool looking Western Juniper.