Cloud Prunned Juniper

George Nesfield · Post by **George Nesfield** » Jul 16, 2007 4:09 pm

Hi,
This is one of my Junipers I have been training it for quite a few years now, the tray below is a bonsai landscape with nine larch trees
George.
.

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Jul 16, 2007 9:53 pm

Very

. How often do you have to prune it?

George Nesfield · Post by **George Nesfield** » Jul 17, 2007 3:43 am

Hi,
About two to three times a year depends on the weather I think.
George.

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Jul 17, 2007 6:05 am

Thanks for the response. Always interested in learning about things I don't have but may some day

Tokyo Mike · Post by **Tokyo Mike** » Jul 17, 2007 11:17 am

UNFREAKIN'REAL !
George you and your garden are a wonder.

marlin · Post by **marlin** » Aug 24, 2007 10:07 pm

what do you use to trim your junipers (tool) ?
I'm about to start on one. thanks

George Nesfield · Post by **George Nesfield** » Aug 25, 2007 8:36 am

Hi Marlin,
I use what they call here sheepshearers they are a tool that you can trim using one hand, if you don't know what I mean ask and I will place a photo on here.
George.

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Aug 25, 2007 2:18 pm

Okay I'll ask for the pic, b/c I've never been near a sheep shearer!

Please?

whis4ey · Post by **whis4ey** » Aug 25, 2007 2:46 pm

I was in B & Q Wednesday when I spied a small pair of electric shears like sheep shears
Now ... I may well treat myself.
They would be just great for the type of job that George does with his trees

George Nesfield · Post by **George Nesfield** » Aug 26, 2007 4:29 pm

Hi,
I will put photo's on the forum tomorrow I have an electric one that runs on a battery BUT I prefer the manual one as you are more at one with the tree when trimmimg which gives you great satisfaction.
George.

marlin · Post by **marlin** » Aug 26, 2007 7:12 pm

Hi George

I would love to see the picture...I started to trim with
a battery operated short trimmer....BUT....after I
was done the edges where I trimmed turned brown !!
I think I'll try a hand trimmer.

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Aug 26, 2007 8:11 pm

Electric ones would tend to tear rather than cut I assume, maybe that's why? Because it damages the ends of them?

whis4ey · Post by **whis4ey** » Aug 27, 2007 5:33 am

Some conifers are better suited to trimming and shaping than others
Some, if you cut them back hard, will not even grow back at all, and for that reason have to be trimmed regularly and lightly to keep them green and in good shape
George would know all about this, and there are many fine examples in the book 'Niwaki' mentioned before on this forum
I have never used a hand electric trimmer but I would have thought that a good quality one would give a good clean cut .... a bit like the difference between a good pair of secateurs and a cheap pair
George's preference to 'be at one with the tree' shows his enthusiasm and devotion both of which are clearly visible in the very fine examples of his work available here to see, and on his web site
Unfortunately I have rather too large a garden and much less time available to be able to devote such passion to individual plants
So I will have to content myself to the occasional visit to George's site for inspiration

George Nesfield · Post by **George Nesfield** » Aug 29, 2007 3:39 pm

Hi,
Here as promised but a couple of days late as our local web server has been having dificulties and I could only reach a few certain websites, but it is all sorted out now.
the top one on the photo is my battery operated trimmers and just below is another blade for it simillar to a hedge trimmer but a lot smaller and below that the two covers for the blades, and at the bottom my trusty sheep shearers which I much prefer to use and use them most of the time as I get the most enjoyment out of using them.
Back to answering the above problem with the conifer turning brown a lot of pines and junipers don't like the touch of steel and prefer to be finger prunned especially the mayerii and my sawara cypress boulevard which can be seen on my website.the photo at the start of these posts at the beginning of the thread is one that is trimmed with the sheep shearers George.

George Nesfield · Post by **George Nesfield** » Aug 29, 2007 3:48 pm

Hi Marlin,
After having a second look at your photo I think you should have finger prunned your pine.I allways finger prune my pines or use bonsai scissors
or secauters if you trim the needles they will go brown on the ends.
George

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Aug 29, 2007 5:38 pm

Is there a site that explains which are which and what to use? I'm thinking of getting one of those 'pruned' spruce looking trees, and wondered whether I could do it or not? Never have pruned any conifers and not sure I know the difference between a pine and a secauter? Any guidance would be appreciated

marlin · Post by **marlin** » Aug 29, 2007 6:36 pm

Hi George

Thanks for the photo. When you say finger prune do
you mean pinching the candles when they first grow out ?
I like the look of your cloud prunning, its very compact and
neat looking. Here's a photo of my "tree"
thanks for your help.

marlin · Post by **marlin** » Aug 29, 2007 6:40 pm

OK...I'll try again...

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Aug 29, 2007 9:58 pm

So, is there only certain type of trees you can do this with? Or can it be done with many different types?

George Nesfield · Post by **George Nesfield** » Aug 30, 2007 2:30 pm

Hi Marlin,
Pleased to have been of some help with your prunning, now the next thing you have to do is try to pull those branches down so that they are horizontal,do it very carefully without breaking the branches you may have to tie a bamboo stake to the branches and the trunk and gradually pull them down.I will try to manipulate your photo to show you what I mean, if I succed will post it in a few minutes.
Yes finger prunning is prunning the candles when they appear.
George.