AusBonsai

I was hoping to get some direction on this tree I look at it but can't decide what to ? Will leave it till I can visualise the direction I want to take it in but any opinions are welcome! I am happy with the trunk and would like to use the left hand side as dead wood but not sure yet?

G'day Eliass, firstly in my opinion deadwood on Elms or deciduous trees just doesn't look quite right. My advice would be to cut back to the second leader on the right, the one just above the lowest right hand branch, wire and grow again from there. The beauty of elms is they grow very fast and this would not take too long to build up again.

It looks like ASH not elm

The second leader on the main trunk ?

It looks like ASH not elm

I think it is on second glance Craig.

The second leader on the main trunk ?

The first most upright branch above the lowest right hand branch. The thin in comparison upright branch. But if it is an Ash, and it looks a lot like one, then my advice might be thrown out the window

A totally different growth habit to an Elm.

Eliass, i'm pretty sure it is ASH, can you take a nice clear pic of the whole leaf ,stem and all.

The trunk certainly has character and appeal, if it were mine i'd plant it in the ground and the approximate angle you desire wire the top with some more movement for now, cut off any bar branch arrangement and grow hard for aabout 4 or 5 years. It'll thicken fast and you'll end up being rewarded with a fatter trunk , which is definately a benefit when growing ASH as bonsai.

Sorry guys Not an elm .. Newbie mistake will a grow box do ? No room to plant!

I think it has heaps of potential. I would be getting rid of that large leader, keep the left hand branch and start developing the tree from the little leader on top of the stump.

eliass wrote:Sorry guys Not an elm .. Newbie mistake will a grow box do ? No room to plant!

Yes a grow box will be fine Elias,