AusBonsai

Agree. Unless you can find an alternative front for the tree where this scar is less obvious.
Not sure whether that root will be compromised by carving down in a V That root has already lost its big branch so if it is still alive it is now sending water and nutrients up to the 2 existing branches. Give sap flow is usually as straight as possible that means little or no sap currently moving up the area marked.

Repot today.
That was fun for my back.

Got a thick root cutting off it as well. Will see it that takes.
Love the freebies.

Nice to see life after being carved and repotted.
Apart from letting it do its thing for a while not real sure on the future styling. I think I’ll see where it buds out but eventually get rid of most of the existing branching. Most of it is long, straight and vertical.

It's always a relief to see a tree that's had some work done on it leaf out in spring for sure.

Definitely a long term project, but really all trees are at the end of the day regardless of size or age.

Just an update on this one. It grows strongly and it gets a great golden yellow in early winter.
I cut it back after it lost all it leaves in June and started removing old loose bark.
I’ve been working areas back and creating more deadwood, treated with lime sulphur about 1:4 ratio.Settled on the branch on the right as the dominant one. I may carve that down the middle about half way to make it visually less heavy. Let it be for now.

Plan to let it just grow through its third season but will be starting to focus more in branching now. There’s an ugly bullseye on the back that I’ll address eventually but no rush.
August 2026 I’ll probably look at repotting into a more suitable bonsai pot about half the height.
I’m determined to make this nice over the next couple of years.