what to do with the top of this tree?

[the grasshopper]

this is a bonsai i created to give the impression of a sea side tree that cops alot of extreme weather, the impression im trying to give is that the whole top of the tree has broken off with age and weather and new smaller branches have now grown. any ideas and input as to what i should do to this tree to improve it would be greatly appreciated as its a working progress at the moment i have left the top of the tree as a broken trunk, but hopefully someone may have a better idea?

[the grasshopper]

here is veiw from another angle that shows the branch structure better and the top of the "broken trunk" better.

[the grasshopper]

my main question here is do i cut off the "Jin" at the top of the tree that at the moment is ment to give the impression that the trunk has broken off. or does it look out of place should i cut it back to that last branch at the top and start to train it to looking more like a normal tree? your opinion helps me decide so please let me know what you think, cheers

[Brian]

Cut off that bare section and wire up one of the upper branches to make a new top.

[the grasshopper]

so your saying i should change the whole idea of the bonsia described above and make it more of a natural looking tree hmm... ill give it some thought first, and listen to more peoples opinion before i cut it, someone may have advice on how to carve it better and get the right effect im after thanx for your input much appreciated

[Bougy Fan]

I think Brian is suggesting a chop and wire up a new leader to improve the taper. The trunk seems fairly taperless at the moment and that would fix it.

[siddhar]

so your saying i should change the whole idea of the bonsia described above and make it more of a natural looking tree hmm... ill give it some thought first, and listen to more peoples opinion before i cut it, someone may have advice on how to carve it better and get the right effect im after

Personally grasshopper the apex is something that currently doesn't attract or detract from the trees composition. I would concentrate on developing ramification, branch placement and pad development. I would definitely jin the branch in question, but a new apex needs to be selected for your final design.

[paddles]

I have a tree that I'm basicaly trying to give the same impression with.. but I get a constant, you need an apex on that tree... I THINK what I'm being told, that even if the "apex" is lower than the jinned top, you still need an apex for the tree.... mine is a plum, and I intend to do a little apex and see how it looks, if I don't like it I can always cut it off...

viewtopic.php?f=132&t=10437

[shibui]

When I think of seaside trees my immediate thought is windswept. This one has full foliage branches in all directions and a long flowing upright trunk so does not immediately strike me as a seaside juniper???

The jin at the top is not a problem. It might look better if you made a bit more of a statement with it, maybe a bit more bark removed down one side of the trunk to create shari?

[the grasshopper]

i did have those branches in a wind swept manner, i only changed them to this position yesterday because they were pointing up, and junipers are ment to have branches pointing out or down from what ive been told until they grow so much that they get heavy and snap off, which is what i was trying to create the illusion of with the top of the tree. i can see everyones point about that it needs a new apex for taper in the trunk. from everyones input i think im best off to create a new apex and move the branches into more of a wind swept position.

[Trent McKenzie]

Should be easy to reshape into a windswept design, seeing as it was wired yesterday, ready for reworking

[the grasshopper]

ok so i have moved those branches to create a more windswept look with the branches mostly in a pushed back direction i have also wired the top branch to now be the new leader and form an apex. the question now is do i leave the top of the old trunk and try and carve it more to look a bit better and take off some bark as if when the top broke and fell it pulled the bark off with it? OR do i remove the stumpy jin at the top and just have the new apex there and give the trunk some taper? whats everyones thoughts

[the grasshopper]

im thinking i need to get one of those clamps and bend the top of the trunk to be more wind swept too instead of it being straight? the grasshopper is learning

[shibui]

Not sure the top branch wired up is good. A windswept coastal trees apex is usually as windswept as the rest of the branches so let it go with the gale too.
A horizontal apex is ok for a windswept tree Paddles and a jin provides the apex for trees with dead top. Junipers with falling branches can have the highest point of the trunk as the apex, not necessarily an upright branch.

One or more of the masters are quoted as saying ' a juniper without dead wood is like a dog without fleas - unnatural'
I'd like to see the dead top stripped and bleached and the dead area extended down the side of the trunk for at least a few cm. I think the 'windward' side would look best (not capable of virt so you'll have to work it out yourself)
The dead top can still be bent if its still pliable and will stay put when it dries. Dry wood can be steamed and bent but that's pretty advanced technique.

Lack of taper in a literati or windswept tree is acceptable.

Be aware that moving branches back and forth between 2 positions a number of times can separate the cambium and kill the branch.

[the grasshopper]

hmm... now you have got the grasshopper thinking properly... thanx for the great advice shibui, ill put it into practice and post a new pic once ive done a bit more careful bending and butchering of the jin. i am definetly going to leave the dead top of the tree as its apex like you mentioned and try my hand at carving, grinding and bleaching the wood for my first time at creating shari cant wait to get stuck into it and give it a go whats the worse that could happen? i dies and i start again having learnt a thing or 2 to make the next one even better