AusBonsai

I bought this great stock tree from lee about a year ago and havent done a thing with it.Im just after some Ideas for it if anyone is keen to help.

Cheers Davo.

My thoughts Davo, would be to start by reducing it in height - maybe at the start of the bare section near the top in the first photo. If you're not in too much of a hurry to style it, perhaps you could look at putting an air-layer on that bare section - there's potentially another good tree in the top section.

From there, I would look at sorting the branching out by removing the ones that aren't in the 'right' positions. 'Step' the branching up the trunk and remove everything else, then shorten and wire the branches you've decided to keep.

Of course, there is another option. That is to heavily wire the trunk all the way up and compress it down creating some radical bends in the trunk. Leave all the foliage in place until it sets in position, then take off what you don't need.

Just my thoughts - and I hope others can add more options for you.

Like Tman says, or a literati

there is nice movement in the trunk I think so you could find on in there

ken

Balance the energy of the tree, the top looks strong with the lower branches weakening. Nice movement with good potential. As mentioned reducing the height will be more proportional for the thickness of the trunk at this time. Redirecting the energy will also help to thicken the trunk. cut off only those branches not essential to the final design. Always choose the best front first then style the tree accordingly, whatever style you choose. Happy bonsaiing
Andrew

Thanks for the replies.
As a beginner its hard to take those first steps on a larger project like this one ( not that its real big ) I suppose ive just gotta jump on in!!!

Cheers Davo.

Hi Davo
I would not cut anything and bend the trunk down to make a cascade.
I am working on one now and will start a new topic and put some photos up to show you what I am doing.
Barry (aussie4bonsai)

I never even thought of a cascade.

I do have a small juniper cascade in training but that doesnt mean this one couldnt also go that way.

Hmmm something else to thing over. Thanks.

hi dave

Barry's idea is a good one, this could make a nice cascade, but right now would you consider trimming all the foliage back to half as much as it is, get it in a styro box or in the ground and feed the hell out of it, doing this will give you lots of back budding up and down the trunk and give you plenty more options. its a time thing right now and I reckon if you give this one time, you could end up with a very nice tree. let any branches that are low on the trunk grow and thicken and this will help thicken the trunk very well. and in a couple of years you will have a solid tree with lots and lots of options. this one could end up have a lot of deadwood if worked right, it may not be like the twisted shimpaku we see but if you put a shari on opposite sides of the trunk the deadwood, well more so the live veins that you will create will start swelling, and in time will give you some "plate" like deadwood and two strong live veins and turn a typical staked juniper into something fresh and different

jamie