Page 34 - BSAM 2015 Q1

Secure the second trunk with two brass screws
Figure 4 Add the fourth tree
Figure 6 Add the sixth tree
Figure 8 Add the eighth tree
Add the third tree. Make sure all the trunks are tightly secured before you proceed to the next step
Figure 5 Add the fifth tree
Figure 7 Add the seventh tree
Figure 9 Add the ninth tree
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 1
Select the main trunk
Remove the trees from their bags or pots and trim the roots. Arrange them and tie together with rope or brass screws.
Leave several central trunks to form the future main trunk. Bend the remaining trunks outward to create the elbows and daughter trunks taking care to create natural looking angles and bends. Use thinner trunks and branches at the back to create a sense of depth and perspective.
Use the remaining trees to represent a second circle of trunks. Tie them to the original trunks to create realistic looking "elbows," making sure that they slant outwards at an angle between 90 to 120 degrees.
Make sure you have an abundance of tie wires se- cured throughout the pot as all the side branches must be tied down at the "elbows." A steel grid or screen with 20 to 30 mm spacing secured to the bottom of the container can be very helpful. Use a cotton based rope or plastic cable ties to tie trunks and branches together in places where you want them to fuse.
Secondary and tertiary daughter trunks and branches must face upwards and outwards and radi- ate evenly around the main trunk.
Place "elbows" with uneven distances between each other. The different trunks should form a unified can- opy without being too symmetrical or even. Leave enough open spaces to create interest and variety.
Single Trunk Wonderboom planting
The Wonderboom style is also known as the elbow style. This particular growth habit of branches droop- ing to the ground forming "elbows," can be used to create a number of different designs. All the styles that have a strong sense of directional movement provide an opportunity to incorporate "elbows"—often creat- ing the main focal point of a planting.
One side branch (main branch) droops to the ground, takes root and forms the typical "elbow." A secondary trunk develops from here. The movement of the main trunk, side branch forming the "elbow" and daughter trunk should be in the same direction. This complimentary movement of trunks and branch- es will create a feeling of harmony and pays respect to gravitational forces. The two canopies must appear separate, but still form a balanced unit in the design.
Figure 10 Select a shallow pot
Figure 11 Secure all the “elbows” with anchoring wires to keep them just under ground level
Partially cover the soil surface with moss.
32 | BCI | April/May/June 2015