Francesco Santini » Hornbeam – Carpinus Orientalis

In 2010, thanks to a dear friend, this hornbeam enters into my collection. I have always been fascinated by the trunk of this plant: good movement combined with a nice conical shape and an abundant number of branches.

This is what the hornbeam looked like in 2010:

In the winter of 2011, after the plant had been allowed to vegetate freely, everything was ready to be worked on: previously, the primary branches had been selected and shaped. Now the aim is to create order and movement in the branches.

The tree before shaping:

Front

Right side

Back

Left side

This is the final result:

The same work is carried out again in 2014. Now the branching has increased and the work is getting larger. Here is the hornbeam at the end of the work:

And finally we come to today.

After years of cultivation, the branching is getting thicker and thicker. The work ahead of me is still sorting, thinning, spinning and shaping. Naturally, as time passes, the focus shifts to the peripheral branching. It is not my intention to modify the primary branching unless necessary and in any case only marginally with the use of a thin guy wire.

The hornbeam before processing

Front

Right side

Back

Left side

Here is an example of the work to be carried out: On this branch it is advisable to substitute the apex in order to maximise the movement and conicity of the branch. The central branch, which is now too big, is pruned. The remaining branches are then wired and shaped.

When shaping, the branches should be moved outwards and should not cross each other. In addition, the movements should be sinuous and slightly upwards.

Here are some examples of the position of the branches before and after shaping.