AusBonsai

Hey all, thanks for all the advice ion the post I put up about my styling issues with the Shimpaku Stock I have.

I spent about 5-6 hours over the weekend wiring & bending to achieve close to my original sketch. Although I did change my preference on which I wanted as the front & and reasonably happy. There is still a bit of fine wiring to be done, I am going to leave this still some more growth is produced through. Spring time I will Start reducing the root ball, slowly over the next few years tho. I have bought the foliage into the truck as close as possible, some of the branches were pretty long, but I think it is working a little better. This is something I will refine in the next few years with more growth. Plus the apex needs a little more refining & wiring too, but the general direction is there now.

Anyway, what's you thought? look forward to any advice A Little progression series to show the changes.
Cheers All
Ryan

hi mate, i think the removal of the bottom two branches and turning them into jin possibly would balance this tree a lot more. just an idea keep up the thinking, good work!

here ya go mate
jamie

I have to agree with Jamie on this one. Although the first branch on the right could Just be removed and a few adjustments to the branches above it could also improve it aswell.
But it's just a sugestion, you've done a good job.

Hugh

Yeh I agree too, I always get scared chopping off the lower thick branches, but in this case I think I might go for it. There is a branch in the background that I may pull around to the side to a an addition low left branch. I had a quick look at it then and have done a virt. I like it what do you think?
Cheers

Ryan

much better ryan

balances much better

I agree too that the bottom bar branches need to be removed.

Here is the same Virt just fixed a little, looks much better I think?

Cheers

Deffinetally better and once the lower branches thicken up a bit it will look even better.

Hugh

If you want to remove the lower branches why be in a hurry ? The tree has a long life ahead of it and branches can be removed at any stage too easily. I would leave them for now as they would really help develop the trunk and give you more styling options in the future.
Craig

That's a good point Craig I might leave them to help develop some lower trunk thickness? I wasn't going to remove them till spring when I re-pot anyway so I have a bit of time to think about it. its always to tempting to hurry things that for sure

Your right through Hugh the bottom branched definitely need to thicken up to read ad the dominant lower branch. The question Is I guess, If i leave the current bottom branches on as sacrifice branches will they take to much growth away from the branches I want to thicken?

Cheers Ryan

I wouldnt think you want the branches to thicken unless the trunk thickens.

My suggestion, if it is worth anything, would be to remove the lower right hand branch and wire the lower left branch up, so it will eventually become the leader and let it grow on for a number of years. This would thicken the side of the trunk considerably in a shorter time span.

Here is a quick Spring 2012 update. I have given it a bit of a trim, re-wire and reduced the roots by about 1/3. Its still in an over size pot, I'm having trouble finding any bonsai pots in newcastle other than at Bunn*#*s Does anyone know where I could get some different pots around the newcastle area?

Anyway A few photos for the series, I'm starting to get a few new shoots towards the trunk on a few branches so hopefully this keeps happaning with trimming and I can develop the pads a little more

Cheers

nice tree Ryan
I like they way it has filled out

re the pots, have you tried Penny? She is local to you there and may have something to suit. or take a trip next weekend and have a look at the School show which is a Ray nesci's nursery and pick up some pots while there

Ken