Alberta Spruce

[twoshay]

Just picked this up from a local nursery, some of the lower branches aren't in the best shape but I thought they might be low enough to remove without a hassle. Is a twin trunk and really dense. I may have bitten off more than I can chew. No idea where to start! lol

[Thymetraveller]

That looks like a fun project!

I have no experience with this species, but I have found a couple of links which might help.

http://www.columbusbonsai.org/?q=node/53

http://www.chinesebonsaigarden.com/dwar ... nsai-tree/

What I'd be doing is gettingsome light into the centre of the tree by taking out really quite a lot of branches.

Start by snipping out smaller, weaker branches, and also remove any old, dead foliage and branchlets.

When you can begin to see the trunks, and when it starts looking more like a tree and less like a bollard, you can start to think about where you are going with it

Looks like a fun afternoon's work - hope you've got some beers!

[KIRKY]

Nice tree. Don't work it now, wait until Autumn you can't lower the branches too much as they will die.
As a suggested twin trunk Walter Pall has this one http://www.artofbonsai.org/critiques/walter.php
Cheers
Kirky

[twoshay]

Thanks for the tips and links guys. I did clean up alot of the dead branches and removed a few weaker ones, hopefully I didn't over do it!

[twoshay]

That twin trunk link is beautiful! Hopefully I can create something close to as nice as that

[Sean M]

I have a similar one that I will be working on come Autumn. I am looking forward to seeing what you do!