Hornbeam Work

I was asked to work on this Korean Hornbeam and on Wednesday I managed to grab a few hours to get it wired. As is common with hornbeam, many branches had crossed or where curling inward. This was a reset for the tree to get structure back on track.

Error
This video doesn’t exist

Hornbeam Reset

A little hornbeam brought to me this week for a reset. Branch structure cleaned up and wired.

Korean Hornbeam

My Korean Hornbeam showing the change from Autumn into Winter.

Before trimming.

dsc_0348

After trimming.

dsc_0350

And in Winter image after dewiring.

dsc_0351

Korean Hornbeam – Changes

I’ve had this Korean Hornbeam for 5 years now. This was how it looked back in July 2010. It was weak and had suffered for a few years and lost a lot of branches. It took 2 seasons to get it on track and build up some ramification.

DSCF1409

This was it in 2013

And here in December 2014.

At this point I decided to make a few changes. Both trunks were parallel to each other in the pot creating a very flat image. The main trunk lacked taper along the last portion of the trunk line and about 2 inches from the top is a swelling that looked ugly and was only going to get worse with age. I opted to layer the top off the main trunk to create a little multi-trunk shohin tree for the future. I also decided that I’d change the front of the tree to offset the two trunk creating more depth.

Below is the tree in December 2015 after the layer was removed. I had give the tree free growth for the year to give me a few more options when thinning out the branches.

This was to be the new angle for the front. I’d lose a little of the width of the base but give the tree a little more character and depth, hard to see that in a photo of course!

I trimmed back unwanted branches and pruned out a few area that had become too heavy.

I then wired out the branch structure creating the basics of two new apexes and got rid of a lot of clutter and crossing branches.

If we are making changes to the front, I might as well repot it. I had a Sylvia Webber pot on the shelf that I love and was itching to use again. I think that’s who the potter is anyway, perhaps someone can confirm from the chop mark below. Is she still making pots? I got this back in 2003.

I transferred the tree over adjusting for the new angle. The pot is perhaps a little shallow looking for such a heavy trunk, but I like it. I was also able to remove an ugly root at the back as a bonus. It’s hard to tell just how much better the image is in a photo, especially as the old front looked good in a photo and this photo isn’t great but trust me, I’m a lot happier with where this tree is going in the years to come. Double the current ramification and I think we have a nice tree in the making. That’s what I love about working on Deciduous trees, there’s no quick image to be had like a conifer, the work has to be done year on year to create a descent bonsai.

Winter Image – Korean Hornbeam

My Korean Hornbeam was very slow to drop leaves this Autumn. This was it on the 15th November!

DSC_0770

 

This was it this weekend just past it’s best colour.

DSC_0062

After a clean up for Winter.

DSC_0072

Pruning – Korean Hornbeam

Before

DSC_0589

 

After

DSC_0591

Stephen’s Repotting

Stephen, Ben and Michael came to my home on Saturday to do a little repotting. I was doing a few trees of my own and it’s good to have company, advice and extra hands available.

Stephen brought two trees with him, an Alder, and a Korean Hornbeam.

Alder before

DSC_0220

 

and after, what a difference a pot makes

DSC_0229

and his Hornbeam before

DSC_0223

And after, again, pots make a big difference!

 DSC_0263

 

Valerie’s Hornbeam

Another one from Valerie’s collection, this time it’s a Korean Hornbeam that has great ramification but was in need of some structural pruning.

DSC_0070

This is it thinned out a bit. Needs a few branches wired to get things into position.

DSC_0078

 

Maintenance – Hornbeam & Hawthorn

Before, again all new growth post show on 21st July

DSC_0661

DSC_0663

DSC_0664

DSC_0665

After

DSC_0018

Hawthorn before. The ramification on this one has doubled this year with numerous maintenance done this growing season.

DSC_0677

and after

DSC_0024

Korean Hornbeam Trim

Stephen’s Hornbeam getting a trim last weekend. This one used to be mine, kinda wish I had held onto it now 🙂 And yes, it’s going into a more appropriate pot in the Spring.

DSC_0180

DSC_0181

DSC_0183