Chinese Elm - Ulmus parvifolia progression

[Rory]

I like your train of thought Ken. I would go with the 2nd option above where you try to grow a back branch, or remove the bottom branch entirely. I am not afraid of a tall branchless trunk, and in a lot of cases it can be quite elegant.

[kcpoole]

Ahhh bugger buddyman, yet another option;-)

[Rory]

Ahhh bugger buddyman, yet another option;-)

I know that feeling well. Having 2 children under 7, we have learnt from our mistakes and no longer give them options. Every option means another 5 minutes of wasting time. I don't mean that to sound patronizing, I just mean the older we get, the more options our minds present us with and in the world of bonsai, that can be a real headache. So many times in the past I've spent months looking at a tree, then I've done the inevitable ~CLIP~... with the branch cutters, then an hour later gone.... oh ^$%@, I didn't think more from that angle, I should have kept that branch and blah blah blah.

[dandybonsai]

I'm still new at this, but can the second left branch be bent down,or graft a whip between the first and second left branches??( or bend back branch around and down to fill hole)

I think I would turn it into a raft design as that first branch and trunk are both big problems,removing first branch won't do much in design.

[Phoenix238]

I know that feeling well. Having 2 children under 7, we have learnt from our mistakes and no longer give them options. Every option means another 5 minutes of wasting time.

Haha, I'm in the same boat here! Worst thing we ever did was take the kids to Subway You quickly learn not to ask hey?

[kcpoole]

I'm still new at this, but can the second left branch be bent down,or graft a whip between the first and second left branches??( or bend back branch around and down to fill hole)

Nope far too large to be bent down and doing so would make that branch different angle from t he trunk to all the others. If it was pulled down then the same need to happen to all the others. and the large negative space would still be there

I think I would turn it into a raft design as that first branch and trunk are both big problems,removing first branch won't do much in design.

What characteristic does it have to make a credible raft?
It would just be a larger straight root with little visual appeal and still have large areas with no growth.

To me to make a raft one does not start with a boring bit of wood not suited to anything else. A Raft ( like Literati) should not be made with a cast off that has no other use. Like any Bonsai, both thos styles need care and knowledge to select good stock to start developing from.

yep the tree has an issue, but that can be mitigated somewhat by the addition of a back branch, or increasing foliage mass to reduce the impact.

Ken

[mtarros]

Just move the branch up??

Graft a seedling to the bottom branch so it has it's own set of roots, once it takes cut the branch off and drill a tight hole and put the branch where you want it.

Then just remove the seedling once the branch takes.

The only problem with doing that, is most likely the new seedling will have different foliage characteristics to the original tree.
If you are going to graft on foliage then one should use a section of the original tree as a donor graft either by tread graft, or growing a cutting to use as a graft later on.

Thanks Watto for a differing opinion

I have created a few virts as well of some different options for everyone to ponder as well
Ken

mm no its not a problem as you are only using the roots of the seedling to be able to move your lower branch up.
The seedling is removed once your branch has been moved up and has taken.

[kcpoole]

Just move the branch up??

Graft a seedling to the bottom branch so it has it's own set of roots, once it takes cut the branch off and drill a tight hole and put the branch where you want it.

Then just remove the seedling once the branch takes.

The only problem with doing that, is most likely the new seedling will have different foliage characteristics to the original tree.
If you are going to graft on foliage then one should use a section of the original tree as a donor graft either by tread graft, or growing a cutting to use as a graft later on.

Thanks Watto for a differing opinion

I have created a few virts as well of some different options for everyone to ponder as well
Ken

mm no its not a problem as you are only using the roots of the seedling to be able to move your lower branch up.
The seedling is removed once your branch has been moved up and has taken.

Ahh Ok got you now, Misread the original thought. interesting idea

ken

[Bougy Fan]

To my taste the back branch should move all the way to the right in your virt. For me it is the best option from the 3 virts. Moving the back branch to the right and down slightly fits in with your other branching too. Of course it's much easier to get a branch in the correct spot in a virt Perhaps an approach graft ?