Branches... I'm just not getting it

[Goff]

Hi everyone.. Really need some clearing up on branch development.. All my bonsai in training are collected olive and ash, so basically stumps.. I really Don't get how to make good branches..I feel I'm just making a mess.. Could someone give me some help how to develope branches from scratch.. Most of my bonsai are on the large size.., please help

[Stewart_Toowoomba]

Hi Goff

any chances of posting some photos of your trees? They often start off as stumps when collected!

Stew

[chrisatrocky]

start off with a basic stump, and let every thing grow for 12 months, then select some branch in the right positions and remove every thing else. If the branches are thick enough to wire then do so but do not cut any branch until you feel they are thick enough for were they are on the tree.
when the branch is thick enough, you can cut it back to 1/3 the actual length you want the finished branch to be. this will encourage smaller branching. when these grow remove all you do not want. and trim the rest back to the 2nd or 3rd leaf from the base of the branch. repeat this until you are satisfied with the shape and remification of your branches.
It is important to remove branches which cross over or rub on another branch or grow back towards the trunk.
I hope this explains enough to get you started.

chris

[Goff]

Stewart check out this post viewtopic.php?f=130&t=9347 . These are the olive I have collected this year.. But it's the ash I collected last year that I got the problem with..

[paddles]

Here is a stump collected a year or so ago, basic branches have been begun... just to give you an idea of where to start... in this instance all branches were kept., with the exception of a couple near the prospective leader

[Paulneill]

I dont worry about branch building until the trunk is 80 - 90 % finished so if u are dealing with a stump that is only making up half the trunk or less ie half finished if you start build branches chances are they will be to big for the finished tree in 5 years when the trunk (framework) is ready . so just worry about the trunk building or (frame work) with nice movement and taper then when the trunk is 90% finished and just needs another year or 2 to finish remove all growth for decidious trees do this in winter then in in mid spring it should have lots of new flexible growth remove unwanted branches early and wire the new growth but you only need to worry about the position of the branches as they leave the tree because next winter they all get cut back again leaving branch stumps the upper branches being cut back more than the lower ones and the lower one being allowed to extend farther than the upper ones lower branches should be thicker than upper branches .by growing branches and by cutting them back each winter builds taper and movement the same way you build a trunk . each time you cut them back leaving another section of the seasons growth adding a bit on each year .
get harry harringtons book bonsai inspirations it has a easy to understand example of how to build branches on a chinese elm.