AusBonsai

Good question Mac.
I find that any branch (deciduous trees?) is able to grow new shoots from the base. So if you cut the branch back and leave a short stub it will almost certainly produce new buds. Having said that I now need to qualify it. If you cut a low branch but leave lots of strong apical shoots the upper shoots may supress the lower buds so if you really need shoots always cut back all over the tree for best results.

Note that I have specified leaving a stub above. New shoots are not really well attached to the trunk. When broken off by 3yos, magpies, livestock with long necks and legs, rough wiring or other assorted pets they often break off below the bark level and I assume take out the basal buds Only time will tell

Also worth noting that there are plenty of other magpies, pets, etc but only one 3yo daughter so give her a big hug to remind her that she is special

Cheers Shibui, much appreciated.

Hi,
Apologies if this has been asked or it just obvious but my chop has started growing with several “branches” coming from the same spot. Do I remove all but 1 or let it grow on and reduce it later?

Thanks in advance

Kieranrulz wrote:Hi,
Apologies if this has been asked or it just obvious but my chop has started growing with several “branches” coming from the same spot. Do I remove all but 1 or let it grow on and reduce it later?

Thanks in advance

PNG image 29.png

Let them elongate a bit and give the tree a chance to regain some strength before selecting branches and cutting back, at least a month or so... You have lots of options which is good.

Keiranrulz... Thanks for your question. Ryceman has provided an answer but I just wanted to say thanks for the question because I had not seen this tutorial before! I went back to the start of the thread and found it very helpful.

Cheers.

Just found this, I’m very new to bonsai - well lets be real, I have no bonsai yet - I’m very new to growing trees with the goal of turning them into bonsai.

I fear I may have read this too late... I’ve done some trunk chops as well as some defoliation, I fear I have made some terrible choices.

Some trees can be quite forgiving... you might be surprised, JimmyBanks.

Turning your "mistakes" into something interesting is what we do - welcome to the community! Joining a club might be helpful, people will have plenty of stories of how they've stuffed up, and re-adjusted.

Best of luck,

Gavin