AusBonsai

I have been looking at this callistemon for some time now. It has two clear trunks and i just don't know where to begin. Both trunks have good early bark formation and some movement but i think one needs to go and i don't know which one. Also where to do a trunk chop and what to do with the other one - jin it perhaps?

I was thinking keep the back trunk for thickness and jin the front one and then cut just above the second lowest small branch (in the final pic...)

I feel a bit lost and need some advice and ideas.

Stew

Stew,
At this stage you can do almost anything to this tree. There is very little structure, just a couple of thinnish trunks so it won't rally matter what you do at this stage. Callistemon will usually produce lots of buds from bare wood so when you cut it back you should get lots of new sprouts on the remaining trunk(s).

I have come to the conclusion that if I cannot decide which path is better then either are just as good so just pick one and do it. Toss a coin if you have to.

You could elect to leave both trunks for now and cut both back hard. Wait until after they produce new shoots then decide because a new, obviously better alternative might turn up with the new shoots.

Thanks Shibui

Good advice there - i'll cut them both down and se what grows back and take it from there.

Cheers

Stew