From Ominous to Oasis

Oasis - After

Caveat: Many of the photos displayed will not be appreciated without viewing the "before" images.

This area of interest here had so much potential; however, it had not been maintained or perhaps, haphazardly maintained, for many, many years. 

The beauty, or the centerpiece rather, is this massive Japanese Maple with three codominant stems, each which also branch off at least once again at the lower portions of the tree...she is gorgeous.

Oasis - After

The other plants of interest are the understory Camellias and Sasanquas.

The other addition or detractor (more in a moment) is a mature Crepe Myrtle that somehow made its way into the scheme of things.

Oasis - After

If you view the before photos you will realize it is difficult to distinguish one plant from another. In fact, a fair portion of the foliage you see is not that of the plants I mentioned. It is the foliage of wisteria, Virginia creeper and smilax. I was well protected from the sun as I worked until I removed much of this unwanted growth which constituted much of the crown of both the Japanese Maple and Crepe Myrtle.

Oasis - After

The crepe Myrtle was an issue as it was encroaching the crown of the Japanese Maple and it had been murdered (arbitrarily cut back) at two different heights, but fortunately, only once. Most every cut was not a sound pruning cut as was with most other cuts with all plants, so I had to repair many cuts.

The concern was whether to remove the Crepe Myrtle or prune it for future growth away from the Japanese Maple. She is attractive from most angles, particularly from the street, so I chose to keep her.

Ominous - Before

Otherwise, there was a lot of hand-and-knee work, hand pruning - high and low and getting inside of plants.

Also, I raised the canopies of the Japanese Maple and Crepe Myrtle, while lowering the crowns of the Camellias and Sasanquas.

It's fantastic see light shining through majestic trees, which also means the air flow they so badly need.

I told the customer, on the right day, she should grab a chair, her favorite beverage and enjoy reading a good book in the midst of this oasis.

Most of this project was performed in the middle of summer, but fall is a wonderful time to address such projects and many other issues.

 

Ominous - Before

Ominous - Before