AusBonsai

Well, I was always was radical. I would plant the tree in a training box and then cut the trunk at an angle just above the lower branches.The roots can be shortened back, and remember if any of the root cuttings have roots attached they will shoot so plant them in separate pots. Elms will shoot back very well in spring so you can select a good new shoot and wire it in the direction of up as a new apex. Let the new shoot grow as far as it wants to so as the achieve a good taper from that point. Plenty of blood and bone in the potting mix and throw Dynamic Lifter at in when it starts to shoot. I think this will give you a good tree with a nice heavy trunk. It wont happen straight away, but hey, time is not that important. Or is it?

That's my angle on it anyway, if anybody disagrees I am willing to be shot down

John T

John Won't be shot down by me. I think his suggestion is an excellent one. In the long term this tree will be much better with more taper.
Craig

kcpoole wrote:Hi Dumper
Finally got back and did a little virt to illustrate what I think

Separated the branching a little, and removed a few on the right hand side

Ken

Nice
I did a virt this morning before i went to work. ausbonsai wasn't working so i didn't post till now.
My virt was similar to yours.

I took almost everyone's opinion into consideration to do this virt.
1. Reduce height by 200mm.. I remove by 100mm. leaving the top.
2. Trunk is too bulky some say, some say is nice, so i plan to plant the roots a bit more to the soil. this will reduce the height.
3. will try to do some grafing on the left side
4. remove the first and the third right branch
5. will also try to graft a right branch on the 30mm on top of the third left branch that will be remove.

that's my plan. but we will see. cause i might put other consideration in as other has suggested cutting off the top part.

John

if anyone wan side and back shot. let me know. i'll take some tonight.

and for the shari. the top where it was saw off started to rotted so i decided to carve it all the way down.

John