buxus

[tgward]

recently tidied a buxus of some sort. wondering if it would be improved and look older or larger if the deadwood was removed .canopy is approx 750mm wide, height 750mm above pot rim.also a straight branch on the left needs some bending somehow

IMG_20231214_202510[2].jpg

- any opinions would be helpful thanks

[Patmet]

I don't know, I kinda like the deadwood. I would be reluctant to remove it myself. I like the tree as a whole. I think as far as making it look older and larger, I would be concentrating on refining those branches as much as possible, and opening up the foliage pads to give more definition to each small pad and the different levels.

[shibui]

Buxus wood is extremely tough and hard. I doubt you'll be bending any of those branches without some very advanced technique.

I also like dead wood but, in this case there may be just a bit too much of a good thing. Consider shortening a few or removing a couple so it's not so busy.

[TimIAm]

I'm seeing something like this

buxus2.jpg

If it were mine, I'd look to balance out the foliage. With the straighter branch on the left side, I'd cut back as far as possible and regrow. I know that would take a few years, but I think it needs to be done.

I like the idea of having one trunk being a semi-dead / deadwood feature trunk and the other having no deadwood. I'd then work on developing the pads.

One other part I would consider: Above the straight branch on the left is that very thick branch, it appears much thicker than the two below it. Not sure if it's just the perspective from this photo. But that is another section I would look at working on.

buxus3.jpg

[tgward]

thanks everyone - as for that straight branch I'm thinking of wedge cutting in two or three places to help the bending - and then reducing the thickness of most jins - am also trying to avoid the buxus pom-pom look