✳️ AT Workshop - July 20, 2025

JBP 14yr De-Candle Summer 

  • De-candle all, even if candles are short

  • Cut all needles half length to train for shorter needles

  • Remove all old dark needles

  • Reduce needle count (apex stronger so leave fewer needles ~6 pairs, lower weaker so leave ~8, middle leave ~7)

  • No structural changes yet

Korean Hornbeam

  • Healthy

  • Trim new shoots with directional pruning 

  • Partial defoliation by removing outer 3-4 leaves

  • Remove long internodes 

  • Remove large leaves

  • Agrees that the 2nd trunk may come off. Revisit in winter.

  • Practice ratifying branches

Trident 

  • Trident are more resilient and robust, and can take a full defoliation. If it were older and more refined, then a partial defoliation.

  • Can take two or more full defoliation in a growing season, as long as the last recovery can be before autumn. Otherwise, the timing of all the other trees, turning colors and losing leaves while this trident is pushing new buds will be off. Mid July is about the last edge of the window, depending on how soon autumn comes.

  • Removed the strong perforated Apex, and used a knob cutter, followed by a rotary tool to carve down into the wood between a half to a full millimeter deep. Non-hormone sealant was used.

Juniper Deadwood

  • Not collected, might’ve been collected urban Juniper

  • Foliage is too course and he recommends grafting all new foliage. Kishu or as desired. Start as close to the trunk for a new branch in the spring.

  • At this time, remove all bark for deadwood so that fissures, cracks and weathering can do as much decay to the wood than if protected by bark. This may take a few days with picks and tools.

  • Avoid the live vein, which would be white underneath

Japanese Maple material

  • The tree that I bought from Round Valley in Jan was a mistake. Possibly the roots and trunk may be good, the branches are horrible and internodes too long.

  • If I wanted to remake the broom style, full canopy, it would require all branches removed and start over.

  • Even the trunks base is too short to make a Shohin (possibly).

  • One suggestion is to build up and ramify as is and sell it. Recoup the cost.

  • If I wish to remake it, it will take years. Can do it, but rather keep only quality material.

  • Don’t chop until spring, so consider then what to do.

If a maple has bong internodes. You can work with it going straight up, but not in this style.

Michael Wei