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Would it work as a lilac literati?
http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16860		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  bluesky [ 31 Aug 2017, 18:25 ]
Post subject:  Would it work as a lilac literati?
Following Cuchilo's great job of shaping a pine in his thread http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=16839 I wonder if I could work similar wonders on this lilac.
I collected it (a low branch with a few roots of its own) from the overgrown garden of a neighbour in spring and planted in this plastic pot. It's come back to life nicely over summer.

Image
Main trunk is about 75cm, the branch about 40cm. The trunk is only 1/2 inch thick but is pretty hard and feels like it might snap if I bend it too radically.
So, I think it would make a lovely lilac literati but I'm not sure if it will survive the hard bending.

Alternatively I could air layer it next spring to get three wee trees. It has already begun to back bud ok.
I started a ground layer from a bud shooting out at the foot. (That's a rock you can see covering the stem to form new roots.)

The top section could make an interesting literati in the future with that thin branch bent back into shape with some movement. It would take probably several years to thicken up, maybe up to 10 years I guess.
But back to the original idea. I wonder if I could bend the main trunk a little more each month over a couple of years until the desired shape is reached. Like a dentist tightening braces bit by bit. Would that work? Maybe need to stop over winter while it's dormant??

Your opinions and advice all welcome! Thanks in advance.
Author:  Gary Jones [ 31 Aug 2017, 20:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Would it work as a lilac literati?
I don't know lilac but as a more brittle wood you're right in suggesting you'd need to to bend it gently over a period. Too much in one go and it'll snap. You can make a small bend and than a week later a little more and so on. Of course you'll need to be able to feel when too much is too much. If you use turnbuckles or similar it makes it easier to apply the pressure required but still be aware of snapping.

Of course if the wood grows quickly you could simply cut it right back and then wire a new leader into the shape you want whilst it's still supple.
Author:  bluesky [ 01 Sep 2017, 09:14 ]
Post subject:  Re: Would it work as a lilac literati?
Thanks Gary. I could try a combination of wiring and turnbuckle.
And as you said I'd need to be careful because the turnbuckle won't warn me when the wood is about to snap. Probably need to bend with one hand then tighten the screw with the other.
I wonder if a branch bender might also work at the point of most inflection.

Whatever I try, my other half will tell me I'm crazy and I should just leave the damn plant alone.
Author:  Brendan [ 01 Sep 2017, 10:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Would it work as a lilac literati?
I have a lilac tree in my garden.

I just popped out and bent one of the new thin straight branches

Image20170901_102607 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr


Image20170901_102626 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr


Image20170901_102652 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr


You should be fine to bend it.

Stymie advises to let it dry out before you bend it.

I am a believer in creating a jig for complex bends, wrapping the trunk and then using cable ties to pull it onto the jig - slowly.
Author:  bluesky [ 01 Sep 2017, 10:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: Would it work as a lilac literati?
Cool! thanks Brendan. I will have a go.

Looks like you have a good candidate for an air layer there.
Author:  bluesky [ 17 Oct 2017, 19:08 ]
Post subject:  Re: Would it work as a lilac literati?
Quick update - gradually bending further week by week.
Poor tree, it's looking really ugly! I think I need a second branch-bender near the top to revert its head up again.
I hope the wire doesn't scuff the bark.
Image
I might sacrifice the side branch in the future.

and here's the ground layered baby shoot now potted:
Image

The other shoot had no roots but is doing ok in the seedlings box.
Image
Author:  Gary Jones [ 17 Oct 2017, 23:43 ]
Post subject:  Re: Would it work as a lilac literati?
tbh I'm not convinced the bend will work on this tree. I'd be tempted to let it shoot out in spring and then cut back to the lowest strong shoot - wire that as it starts to lignify to put movement in and then grow it for a few years to thicken the trunk. I'd want some shoots as low as the branch bender to build from.
Author:  Glynjohnson [ 18 Oct 2017, 12:25 ]
Post subject:  Re: Would it work as a lilac literati?
I'm with Gary, I'd let it grow well and wait to see what buds you've got to work with. If you want to keep it like this I'd redo the wiring as it's a little ropey - it's all good practice though!
Author:  bluesky [ 18 Oct 2017, 17:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Would it work as a lilac literati?
Thanks guys you're probably right.
It's back budding like crazy at the moment so I could probably get two air layers on it in spring, and make a small garden of lilacs! In any case, I don't think I need to touch it now til spring.
Author:  Cuchilo [ 18 Oct 2017, 20:37 ]
Post subject:  Re: Would it work as a lilac literati?
It would look smart bent to just below the top of the pot and then the flowers popping up at the end . Like it had given up and the boom in spring / summer .
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