AusBonsai

Does the top extending branch look out of place. Should this be removed. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Hi
It depends on the style you're going for? I dug one out of a place i have just moved to. One side of the tree is dead and will be carved accordingly. the top has just shouted like yours and i'm keeping it to create a much needed apex to what will be an informal upright.

You look to be moving to a semi-cascade. If this is true, then you need to think about what you want at the top of your tree. I see that there is also a shoot on the LHS of the main branch. That is probably something you want to concentrate on as the current branch structure comes from the one branch. Maybe something worth thinking about.

Good thing about this species is that they are almost impossible to kill and are prolific growers.

Grab a beer , sit down and think of what you want the tree to look like and go for it

The top shoot, I will maintain in the style of semi-cascade with the rest of shrub. Just thought that top branch (marked) looks a bit odd. Should I keep it and wire it down, or remove it. Any comments would be appreciated.

If in doubt keep it until something makes sense.
Personally I'd like to see some overall more growth on this tree and removing the branch in question won't help achieve this outcome.
Keep us posted it's a nice trunk and yes, my thoughts are that this will lend itself well to cascade / semi - especially in bloom.

Thanks Boics for your help, I'll just keep feeding it and see what happens. When you say more growth, where in particular?

Hi Hawkeye, it looks like you are undecided as to a future. So my question is, "do you see this as a bonsai"
The reason I ask is that you have had advise to grow this out and see what you think.
In this pot you could leave it for three years and it will look pretty similar to what it does now, that is BIG growth won't happen in that pot.( ) if you want it to grow out, chuck it into something that will let it grow.
For me, in that pot or a larger one I would have to be making a decision about the "threesome" of shoots that you have coming from the trunk and make the decision to keep one, from that point you can begin to grow a semi/ cascade.
I will be cautious and say, it doesn't matter which you choose but one is all you need, what you need is a better taper from trunk to that single new branch and hence the recommendation to put it in a big pot.
On this basis I would also keep the little shoot at the top, great makings for a little crown in the future.
Good luck with it regardless,
Watty