AusBonsai

hi everyone, im having trouble seeing the next step in this tree, any help or ideas will be much appreciated, not sure were to go with it, i know it needs to be thinned back at the top but i stopped trimming it as i wasnt sure were to go

You need to get some more movement in the trunk and branches and let to grow on and thicken up.

Mick

Hi Anchie
What we colloquially term a "Stick in a Pot"
the tree has several faults which almost all newbies trees have as well, No taper, little movement, ill formed foliage, Bar branches, etc.
Having said that everyone here has had a tree just like that too so all is not lost.
Use the tree as a learning tool and get you skill up and you will do well

See the links in my Sig to pages in our wiki to provide some insight to how you can improve this tree and any others you have too

Ken

with this I would look for the "smallest" tree--which for me would be a radical trunk chop slightly above the lowest branch --also remove the lowest left branch ----then you would have a possible semi cascade shohin

What we have here is opportunity With your four years experience it is a good time to try a layer. Dont get to attached to the tree is the first lesson and be prepared for change. The bottom right hand branch and trunk would make a good semi cascade and the rest of the tree an informal upright. Do a layer just under the second right hand branch to get two trees for one.