AusBonsai

I acquired thi Callistemon almost 2yrs ago and have just moved it recently which has me pondering a big chop, air layering the main left branch and the top just above the first right branch. As much as I love this tree it is Big about 1200mm high and wide making it not light or easy to move around to get the best light in my little courtyard, it would allow me to rotate clockwise about 110 degrees for the best nebari.
I hesitate in deference to the original grower whom i respect and the design is starting to fill in nicely, would you go the big chop and start again?

Thanks in advance
Elmer

My humble advice is that whilst air layers are great they don't always yield intended success - some can even be classed as failures.
Any removal of such large branches will leave big holes and scars that will require carving to "naturalise".
You may not get any lower branches to benefit your new base/design.

So in summary not a terribly bad idea for the reason's you've outlined but tread carefully.

Hi Elmer ,
A bit radical but could it be possible to split the trunk in two ,following the natural line in pics 1 and 2 .The roots already look a little separated already and the Tree looks healthy enough .There will be a fair amount of scarring but this could be incorporated in the overall design. Another option. Cheers John.

Boics, could you elaborate on the success/failure layering might produce? From what I have read and been told Callistemon layer fairly easily so I thought it could be a good learning experience. I didn't want to waste so much old wood given how long this variety takes to gain girth, from what I have been told the tree is at least 30yrs old.
I am constantly removing new shoots from all up and down the trunk so I am fairly confident it will provide more if chopped.

John, an interesting idea i will have to have a closer look. The tree has a number of scars from it's time in a garden and branch removal since collection, from all my limited knowledge wouldn't some more add to the illusion of an even older tree?

Is it possible to get some pics of the whole tree from a few different angles? It has a beautiful base, but for my it seems a bit lost in the rest of the tree. I would definitely consider the chop.

Dansai, will try get a few more pics when a friend visits, as it currently stands it's too heavy to move on my own.