I lifted a few hawthorn out of the Poly Tunnel today to check them over. They had been repotted this year and tucked away out of reach. I was very pleased with the new growth. Both had basic branch selection and wiring last year. I removed the tips of the elongated growth before it thickens. I did this last year on a small one at this time of year and the amount of ramification that resulted was fantastic.
I lifted the next one in and was amazed by the back budding on the trunk.
I set about doing the same process as with the first one and noticed one branch that looked weak. No buds had opened and I just assumes that it had been knocked and a crack had dried out causing it to suffer and die. On closer inspection I realised that I had a visitor! Little fecker was helping himself to the nice new tasty leaves.
A catapillar of some description. If it helps you identify it, when you squish it, it’s green on the inside 🙂
The tree after removing all the unwanted shoots.
This little Yew was also field grown. Out of 15 growing in open ground, this one decided that fattening up wasn’t for him. It remained quite small and I have decided to keep it as a shohin. I styled it last year and I’m hoping for plenty of growth this year to start filling out the image. Again, front and back below.
This cut off is the area for some attention. You can see all the unwanted shoots below my hand.
I removed the unwanted branches and shortened some of the top growth. A quick outline with chalk as a guide.
Makita and samurai bit.
Afterwards I’m left with what’s needed for further refinement.
Signs of the new foliage following flowering is already evident.
This little sea thrift is also coming to life. It even has a little flower emerging. Just plucked this out of a rock at the coast last Summer.
Bonsai Eejit 