looking for styling help on juniper

[de_keizer]

hi i bought this juniper and im not sure what i should do with it. theres some dieback where the light wasnt getting to the folage as it was growing in a corner. all ive done so far is thined the foliage a little. any help would be much appreciated as i have no clue how to stye it.
the dimentions are 60cm tall 80cm wide the base of the trunk is about 3 or 4 cm wide.

heres some picks sorry if there crappy

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[Andrew Legg]

Ask yourself two questions.

1.) Can I post better images
2.) Why did you buy the tree? What attracted you to it?

I ask the first one in the hope of getting photos up that allow people to comment, and the second one is not a "criticism" question, but an honest one. What actually made you buy that specific tree? Was it something about the trunk? Something about branch placement?

Cheers

[kcpoole]

Phone photos Maybe?

I woud have to look at in person, but the top section would make a real nice Semi Cascade or even Full. Layer off the top section to use, then look hard at the bottom to find the tree within. The old adages of less is more, or find the smallest tree within work for me

Maybe Some serious bending to compress it lower and tighten up the bends that are there to make the tree Much smaller.
I think there is some branching hidden in there (Photos 4 and last), that might be the top branches / apex.

Ken

[Mitchell]

Here's a similar tree of mine. Might help to look through, though I could not advise you without seeing your lower trunkline closer. The tree of mine is many years away from being anything like bonsai, it will get there though. viewtopic.php?f=131&t=5614&p=81145&hili ... ata#p81145

[de_keizer]

thanks for the replies, yes they are pics of my phone its the best and only camera i have. andrew when i bought the tree i thought i might be able to get a good cascade out of it but once i got it home i found that that would be impossible without some drastic bending that the trunk probably wouldn't survive.
kcpoole i agree with you with about the top being good for a cascade of some type i also believe ive found the tree within the lower half and have already started styling it accordingly. the only problems ive come across are that alot of the branches are very long and thin without much side branching.
mitchell ive read your thread before and congratulations on your tree id've found it very hard to cut that much off the tree. i tend to have a hard tome seeing the small tree in the larger one, i usually have to be shown. hopefully what ive done turns into a good tree.

[Greth]

Great that you have posted it for help, I think you are better off taking this tree to a shop or club to get individual advice. It is really hard to see what should be done from a photo. You need an expert to poke around the front, the back, tip it sideways, before you can find the best line in it.
I think it will be a really nice bonsai, but don't spoil it by taking advice from an admittedly less than perfect photo. Show it to a real expert live, so they can turn it around in their hands and tell you the best way to go with it. Listen carefully, you can still reject the advice if it doesn't seem right to you.
This one could be really good, if you don't rush and if you listen to some ideas. Certainly don't kill it by being too hasty!

[Mitchell]

Great that you have posted it for help, I think you are better off taking this tree to a shop or club to get individual advice. It is really hard to see what should be done from a photo. You need an expert to poke around the front, the back, tip it sideways, before you can find the best line in it.
I think it will be a really nice bonsai, but don't spoil it by taking advice from an admittedly less than perfect photo. Show it to a real expert live, so they can turn it around in their hands and tell you the best way to go with it. Listen carefully, you can still reject the advice if it doesn't seem right to you.
This one could be really good, if you don't rush and if you listen to some ideas. Certainly don't kill it by being too hasty!

I don't think anyone has given advice yet just rudimentary suggestions. You would have to be a brave man or woman to advise on such pictures, as there is nothing to advise on. I'm certainly not suggesting he takes my route, just thought it might be worth seeing a semi chop job on a prostrate juniper. I know you were not directing your comment at anyone, just wanted to re-affirm that I to believe that a tree such as this needs a thorough looking at for all possible lines.

[kcpoole]

Hey De-Keizer

Re the long branches, if you have an idea on what you wish to achieve, then use one of the other branches not in thatplan, as test subject. Cut it back quite hard and you should see new buds and shoots popping out all over.

If you are still unsure than get along to a workshop or club meet and ask for assistance from the senior ( experienced members) there

Ken

[Mitchell]

Hey De-Keizer



If you are still unsure than get along to a workshop or club meet and ask for assistance from the senior ( experienced members) there

Ken

I hear TSOB might have someone there that could look at it.... hey Ken

[kcpoole]

Hey De-Keizer



If you are still unsure than get along to a workshop or club meet and ask for assistance from the senior ( experienced members) there

Ken

I hear TSOB might have someone there that could look at it.... hey Ken

LOL Yep, might be someone there to give it a few once overs

Ps any updates on yours?

Ken

[de_keizer]

well yesterday i got bored so i had a tinker, and im happy with the end product. if i was a member of a club i probably would have waited to get advice but as i tinkered i liked what i saw more and more. i decided against turning it into 2 trees with a layer and compressed the trunk instead. as a result the tree is now about 40cm tall and around 55cm wide.

heres a pic again on the phone but it should be easier to see being daytime and there being less foliage the background helps to

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