Prunus Mahaleb progress

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Prunus Mahaleb progress

This Prunus Mahaleb is a yamadori which was collected in 2012. The unusual and quite different shape with lost of natural scars and deadwood catched my attention so it became a part of my private collection.

Prunsu Mahaleb yamadori after collection - 2012-03

In spring of 2013 I started to work on the tree. At the first styling only the primary branch ware selected, put into position and the basic styling of the deadwood was done.

Prunus Mahaleb after the first styling - 2013-03

The trunk and primary branches ware out of proportion, so I left the tree in the big plastic container, feed the tree aggressive with different types of fertilizer and let the branches grow freely. The goal was to make the branches stronger, thicker and via that an more mature look and feel.

Prunus Mahaleb - 2013-05

The tree has grown very well true the season and last weekend I made the second step.

Prunsu Mahaleb - 2013-11

One of the results of the aggressive feeding regime was lots of back buding so I used this and cut back strongly to two buds and revired the tree again. The goal at the moment is still the same, the development of primary and some secondary branches. The current look of the tree reminds of an conifer design but after the next levels of branch development will be done this will change. My plan is to develop the next level of more thinner branches in the typical growth pattern for deciduous trees which should completely change the look and feel for this.

Prunus Mahaleb after second styling - 2013-11

The primary branches are almost strong enough so the proportions are getting right, except of the upper part of the trunk which still needs to get much, much stronger. Now I will focus on getting only the upper part of the trunk stronger, thicker and on the development of the branch structure (secondary level, third level,...)