Dwarf Japanese Juniper (Juniperis procumbens 'Nana") - 2.0

 this is an exerpt from the Photo/History page for Japanese Juniper 'Dwarf' (Juniperis procumbens 'Nana')

I've had an eye out for another juniper, although I wouldn't call it a search, I've been waiting for the cheap, $10., "nana" (another name for dwarf) plants to show up at the nursery. I need more conifers for the collection & winter is coming when my maples, citrus & others will be "napping".

I forgot to take the "before" photo before I started preliminary pruning ..opening-up the tree by clearing the overhanging foliage to reveal the trunk & base. You can see the rim of the nursery pot, which I cut-away to be able to see & get at my task.

Little by little, as we remove foliage, the shape of   a bent-looking trunk, old & twisted, possibly shaped by wind or as the plant reached for sunlight.

As I removed more foliage, I began to realize that the trunk actually bends back on itself, forming a 'U' shape. In addition, the plant was seated at an angle in the pot, suggesting that originally, this 'nana' might have grown perpendicular or on a small incline.

The hard part of style-pruning, or pruning in general, is knowing when to stop, but that is easier said than done. I may well have over-pruned this little tree, already.

And, I've decided to hold-off on a repot until I've had a chance to see how this tree reacts to what we've done so far.