My humble opinion, looks good except for that first branch on the left. Might look better as a dual trunk instead of making that a branch
BlacksmithNo6559
Not bad.
1. Use thicker wire, rule of thumb is about 1/3 to 1/2 the branches width.
2. Dwarf Alberta Spruce tend to spring back even after being wired for over a year, they are better for clip and grow methods of shaping.
3. Get more trees and keep at it! We learn from our mistakes and murdered trees, dont be discouraged! Also pruning on conifers is best left to winter/spring. Ifyou really want some bonsai work for the summer get some tropicals! Goodluck!
Yern2Lern
I’m pretty new myself but I believe to get nice proportions and start to taper the trunk you may want to cut the tree around the 5th or 6th branch up and take the top branch and train it straight up. I don’t believe spruce will sprout new growth from dormant places on the tree so you will want to shorten the long branches as best you can while ensuring there are active growing tips remaining where you need them. Just my sense from reading and practicing a bit.
freshmarmalade
In my opinion, it is rather tall. I would consider reducing the height and selecting a new leader.
banjodance_ontwitter
It depends on what you like to see in the tree honestly. As a nontraditionalist, I appreciate the size and shape, the embrace of the new, natural growth, and love the concept you have for wiring. I will agree that trimming might be more effective to shape this one than wire, but each of those is beautiful! Just keep in mind what you think this tree will look like in five or so years, and keep working toward that goal. Also, I have a blue star Juniper I grabbed this year, I’ll save your post and show you what I do with it next spring
More-Figs
It’d make that first left branch that’s bent straight again then jin it. Alberta are not great at holding their wired position after taking it off- just cut and shape for them. Also, don’t worry about the flip up at the end of your branches. Just wire them straight down and then the pads come out just close to horizontal- it’ll be way more natural looking in the long run.
Jephiac
Yeah lose or jin the first couple branches. I’ve wired a few of these before and they will start to spring back after a year ANYWHERE they’re not wired properly. And if you do wire every last branch and needle the new growth in the spring will just grow up again anyways. I’ve started just using guy wires for everything instead of traditional wiring. Good thing about these spruces, they are real tough, I haven’t killed one yet and believe me I’ve put a couple through hell.
omnompancakes98
Lookin good! These trees are one of my favorites to work on. I have 2 now that I got from a nursery and it’s really cool to see the progression from start to finish when going from it’s dense foliage to when I finish pruning and wiring
8 Comments
My humble opinion, looks good except for that first branch on the left. Might look better as a dual trunk instead of making that a branch
Not bad.
1. Use thicker wire, rule of thumb is about 1/3 to 1/2 the branches width.
2. Dwarf Alberta Spruce tend to spring back even after being wired for over a year, they are better for clip and grow methods of shaping.
3. Get more trees and keep at it! We learn from our mistakes and murdered trees, dont be discouraged! Also pruning on conifers is best left to winter/spring. Ifyou really want some bonsai work for the summer get some tropicals! Goodluck!
I’m pretty new myself but I believe to get nice proportions and start to taper the trunk you may want to cut the tree around the 5th or 6th branch up and take the top branch and train it straight up. I don’t believe spruce will sprout new growth from dormant places on the tree so you will want to shorten the long branches as best you can while ensuring there are active growing tips remaining where you need them. Just my sense from reading and practicing a bit.
In my opinion, it is rather tall. I would consider reducing the height and selecting a new leader.
It depends on what you like to see in the tree honestly. As a nontraditionalist, I appreciate the size and shape, the embrace of the new, natural growth, and love the concept you have for wiring. I will agree that trimming might be more effective to shape this one than wire, but each of those is beautiful! Just keep in mind what you think this tree will look like in five or so years, and keep working toward that goal. Also, I have a blue star Juniper I grabbed this year, I’ll save your post and show you what I do with it next spring
It’d make that first left branch that’s bent straight again then jin it. Alberta are not great at holding their wired position after taking it off- just cut and shape for them. Also, don’t worry about the flip up at the end of your branches. Just wire them straight down and then the pads come out just close to horizontal- it’ll be way more natural looking in the long run.
Yeah lose or jin the first couple branches. I’ve wired a few of these before and they will start to spring back after a year ANYWHERE they’re not wired properly. And if you do wire every last branch and needle the new growth in the spring will just grow up again anyways. I’ve started just using guy wires for everything instead of traditional wiring. Good thing about these spruces, they are real tough, I haven’t killed one yet and believe me I’ve put a couple through hell.
Lookin good! These trees are one of my favorites to work on. I have 2 now that I got from a nursery and it’s really cool to see the progression from start to finish when going from it’s dense foliage to when I finish pruning and wiring