AusBonsai

I was asked to remove this tree from a neighbours yard early in 2008 and having never dug a robusta I jumped at the opportunity. I eventually discovered from another of the neighbours that it had been planted approx 35-40yrs ago, in a small circular flower bed. Because of the heavy clay ground the tree had no tap root but a nice spread of lateral roots, it was replanted in my front garden to recover. Over the course of the next 3 yrs it has been repeatedly cut back to produce a selection of branches for later styling. While its growth has been strong & it shoots all up & down the trunk, all except where I had wanted one, just below the jin on the left until now...

I dug it this morning and planted in this darkbrown unglazed japanese oval. I had to remove a 2" stub on the bottom of the roots and approx 4" off the length of the heavy root on the front right. After potting up 3/4 of the branching was removed, keeping only those essential to the final design. While I am drawn to having a flat apex on this tree, the reality of its growth habit means alot less pruning if I allow it to have an upward pointing apex.

Height 105cm trunk diameter approx 14cm

Comment & critique always welcomed. Edit: add size