English Oak Stump - Please suggest!

[kvan64]

Hi, This stump is quite big and the secondary branches are hard and no longer flexible to train. There are a lot of new grow virtually everywhere on the stump from root to top branches (There are a lot more on the stump now as I took the photos last week).
Should I cut the secondary branches and train just the new shoots? Should I cut one of the big branch shorter then the other?
Thanks for all suggestions.
Dk

[Jamie]

if you have shoots coming out from all over the place i would be getting rid of those thick secondaries. they wontt be part of the overal design i wouldnt think and i would train the new shoots to what you need, this stump looks fresh yes? im not sure on all details with this but it might be an idea to let it grow free for a while to make sure it survives. the thick branches will need carving out and you will probly have to lower one of the two trunks to create visual dynamics.
procedures on this i am not exactly sure about as i am still learning with working on my elm stump. it has been a process but melaquin has been great with it so i am sure someone with the experience will help you with it all

regards jamie

[kvan64]

Thanks Jamie, you have always been the first to reply my new post!
Jamie, the stump has been in the greenhouse the whole winter and growing strong. with heaps of roots and shoots. I think it will live. I like the idea of low one branch. Which one do you suggest?

[Jamie]

well it sounds strong, going of the two photos you got i will do a quick and dirty virt for ya, give me about 20 min

[Jamie]

like i said quick and dirty, but this is what i see in the stump pic one and maybe pic two is a possibility for foliage plan, but i cant tell that with out it being in full flush of growth and ramification, plus you should go where you want to with it mate.

excuse the virt, it isnt at all up to any standard but it gives an idea

i would personally get the stump to where i wanted it first, then look at branching ramification etc later down the track as it has a lot of growing to do to get to any stage
should be a fun project for ya to work on though



edit- actually lookking at what i thought for the foliage im not to keen on... will try a few different things and get back to ya on it

[kvan64]

Thanks for the quick work with the vir. I will probably lower thinner branch as suggested (it makes sense). It would be good to have the shape like in the second virtual photo. Definitely a long term project
Thanks buddy!

[Jamie]

no worries mate, and yea definately a long term project, my elm stump i have been going with for 2 years and am still no where colse to where i want to be with it, but it is getting there, and yours will to mate!

i think if you work out a good plan before you go working on the tree and get a few more ideas you will have a great tree eventually!

[stymie]

Sorry Kvan but I, along with most growers, don't like a 'V' formation in any bonsai. I would certainly remove one side of the V first thing. Left hand in the second photo.
I appreciate that there will be a large wound where the chop takes place but scars and hollows on Oaks are quite prevalent in the wild and are frequently made deliberately by growers. The result will be improved taper and the divertion of all nutrients into the surviving trunk with the result that a satisfactory bonsai will emerge faster. The thick stubs will of course not be wanted but they can be removed much later and new branches will grow at a good pace.

[kvan64]

Sorry Kvan but I, along with most growers, don't like a 'V' formation in any bonsai. I would certainly remove one side of the V first thing. Left hand in the second photo.
I appreciate that there will be a large wound where the chop takes place but scars and hollows on Oaks are quite prevalent in the wild and are frequently made deliberately by growers. The result will be improved taper and the divertion of all nutrients into the surviving trunk with the result that a satisfactory bonsai will emerge faster. The thick stubs will of course not be wanted but they can be removed much later and new branches will grow at a good pace.

Jamie, could you help do a virtual for this as well. Thanks mate.

[kcpoole]

The V does not look nice for me

Can you tilt the stump over to lower on of the "Legs" to be more horizontal and become the first branch?

Kn

[kvan64]

The V does not look nice for me

Can you tilt the stump over to lower on of the "Legs" to be more horizontal and become the first branch?

Kn

good thought. Just that the other branch is still too big to become the first branch. I orignally thought I could keep them as twin-trunk. Maybe it would be ok when I lower the slightly smaller trunk to it's first secondary branche?

[kvan64]

Just some updated pics for new growth. Looks like I have to start traing it soon.

[kcpoole]

Hey Kvan
the V is too high to make a nice twin trunk I think.

i like the rotated idea an using the right hand trunk as the first branch. like my quick virt here.
the tree is rotated 12 degress and you can use this branch and any new shoots you get from it
The top of the tree is created from on of the branch stubs up there and you have a nice start top the firs left branch and a back one as well I think

It all depends on the roots as to how much you can tilt it but may be ok

Ken

[kvan64]

Thanks for the virt. Ken. I like that rotating idea too now. The roots probably are not problematic but I may need a deeper pot though. I will start cutting the other branch to lower it and keep you updated with the photos and await for more feedbacks. Please just keep helping me with this one as I would have been lost without people's help from this forum.
I'm a lot more into bonsai now comparing to a few months ago when I just started.

[Jamie]

kens virt is what i would have done, after reading this post again this arvo. i agree with stymie that the v doesnt look right. it was late last night, i was just trying to show you what to take off as such, you will be able to divert the to the tree so you should be good!