Young Corky Bark Elm

[mattaustin]

Hi,

New to bonsai and looking for some advice with direction of this young tree.
Just wanting to play with styling of this tree so I can get the hang of bonsai techniques to move onto a better tree in the future. Don't want to kill an expensive tree
This tree has been neglected for over a year as I have been to busy with life. However I am wanting to put time into bonsai and learn this beautiful art form. Have acquired multiple books on the subject and will be reading heavily over the next few weeks.

I will be playing with 3 tree's (Port Jackson Fig, Japanese Maple, Corky Bark Elm) however this one no matter how much I sit in front of it I cannot decide on a final look for it.
I believe this is the time of year to start styling one of these tree's so thought I best get some direction from the experts before I begin.

Please find some photos below of how the tree is today.
Feel free to critique away.

Possible Front


Left


Right


Back


Top


Roots


Happy to provide more photos upon request.
Thanks in advance for all the awesome advice.

Cheers,
Matt

[Raymond]

Nice root spread. You have the beginnings of a wonderful nebari there...

[Elmar]

I know how you feel Matt!
I feel the same every time... Usually I look at different angles every day until something 'Tickles my Fancy'!
Having said that, easing is very good but doesn't replace your local club. YouTube vids are also great but don't replace your local club; this forum is awesome (and one of the best IMO) but doesn't replace your local club...

I don't have a local club so I do all of the above and visit a club when I'm in the area!

BUT I have accumulated some information that is guiding me somewhat:
1) starting with the Nebari (root spread) - look for the widest possible angle (of the root spread);
2) Trunk - look for the best possible movement of the trunk (character and interest);
3) Points of interest - dead wood scars etc (doesn't apply to every tree) - make sure that is featured;
4) Branches - thickest @ the bottom, not directly opposite to each other, alternating in direction (all directions of the compass), on the outside of a trunk curve getting shorter and thinner as you go up the tree;
Now, not all of these are going to work together so you need to find the best compromise between them and/or select one over the other in order to bring out the best possible tree.

A point that should fit snugly in amongst those above is TAPER where the trunk becomes successively thinner as you go up the tree...

So then, looking at your tree, find the widest looking root spread, the best trunk movement, and then find a balance (or best PoV) between the two. Then you can make a decision on the branches (ie: Left view cut off the top after the first branch to create a new leader) - this is an example, not necessarily what think you should do... It has very few branches. I don't know how well these back-bud on older wood... Do some scratching on paper (usually safer than gluing branches back on!) I have experience on that too!



Cheers
Elmar

[Isitangus]

If it were mine I would be probably chopping that main trunk back to the first branch, then wiring some movement into that "new leader", pruning the tips of what's left so it back buds lower down. When it shoots lower down i would be selecting a low shoot as the next new leader and chopping back to that.
Oh and having it in the ground!!!


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[mattaustin]

Thanks for the advice everyone.
Pretty much confirmed what I was thinking, just trying to avoid cutting it back too much as I want a tree to play with while other tree's thicken up in the ground.

Just sat in front of the tree for another 15 mins and I think I found my issue, the straight branch at the bottom coming off from the right was throwing me off.
Have decided to make the "Right" photo above the new "Front" however take that front branch completely off so that you can see the main trunk, which has more character than my original "Front" photo.
Also take a little off the top so it back buds.

Going to aim for something like this now.


NOTE: Not my image, found on Google.

Never saw this view because I was trying to not trim too much, however believe it will be the best for the tree in the future.
Happy to keep this tree more of an upright as my Japanese maple I am going to develop will have heaps more movement in the trunk and would like different looking trees.

Let me know your thoughts.

Cheers,
Matt

[Andrew Legg]

If this is what you are going for, I'd be inclined to remove the heavy first branch. It is very straight and very much the same thickness as the main trunk. I'd then get some heavy wire onto the main trunckline and accentuate some of the movement. Shee where that's leaves you and take it from there.

[mattaustin]

Thanks Andrew Legg.

That's exactly what I am going to do.
Remove the first branch entirely and also some off the top as it is too straight as well.

Just need to get myself some tools now so I can do it properly.
Thanks again everyone.

Will post up some more photo's once I have begun work on this.

Regards,
Matt