AusBonsai

I git this the other day as well as an elm that I'll start a separate post for.

After some guidance on what to do with it. Do I keep the two trunks? A bit unsure on branch selection. Do I just wire all the branches out horizontal?

I want a traditional looking maple bonsai out of this eventually, some google images below my photos fir example

Sorry for all the dumb questions hahaha.























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Hi Zimzallabim,

I'm no expert but I have an opinion

I'd be inclined to remove one of the trunks as they split quite high up and use that to get movement and taper.
Here is an example of a tree with the trunks splitting higher up because keeping them is definately an option too If you have a closer look at the photo's you posted and the one above, the branches don't exit the trunk horizontally. This is something that pop's up regularly in the "don't style a maple like a pine" type threads. Obviously it's up to you how you want your tree to look, I'm just saying it as horizontal goes against your examples. I read an interesting bonsai today article last night about styling for beginners. It said to remove anything that must go (bar branches, eye poking and multiples from the same spot) and utilise the rest. From there you can slowly whittle them out as the tree and your ability develops.

Cheers,
Nigel

NAHamilton wrote:Hi Zimzallabim,

I'm no expert but I have an opinion

I'd be inclined to remove one of the trunks as they split quite high up and use that to get movement and taper.
Here is an example of a tree with the trunks splitting higher up because keeping them is definately an option too

EXAMPLE.jpg

If you have a closer look at the photo's you posted and the one above, the branches don't exit the trunk horizontally. This is something that pop's up regularly in the "don't style a maple like a pine" type threads. Obviously it's up to you how you want your tree to look, I'm just saying it as horizontal goes against your examples. I read an interesting bonsai today article last night about styling for beginners. It said to remove anything that must go (bar branches, eye poking and multiples from the same spot) and utilise the rest. From there you can slowly whittle them out as the tree and your ability develops.

Cheers,
Nigel

Cheers

I am.still in two minds about the trunk/s

As far as branches they all shoot up I thought I should correct that?

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Try and sketch options roughly might help, can see a number of options here. Personally was thinking of keeping both when first looking at the tree.

Hi Zimzallabim
How prepared are you cut it back?
I would suggest cutting right back to the lowest branch and develop this a the new leader as well as working on the roots!!
It may seem wild but sometimes you need to be savage!!
Regards Alan

Alan wrote:Hi Zimzallabim
How prepared are you cut it back?
I would suggest cutting right back to the lowest branch and develop this a the new leader as well as working on the roots!!
It may seem wild but sometimes you need to be savage!!
Regards Alan

Not sure I'm keen to do that just yet

Will select some.branches and wire.them in winter and let it go fir a season and see what I end up with

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Haven't been here for a while.

This is what my trident looks like at the moment. I was pretty drastic cutting it back lol

All I have done recently is remove some unwanted growth and increase the split in the trunks





Thoughts?

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There's only one thing that can be said about this material zimzallabim. And I hate to say it but if I don't someone else eventually will - or should.
It's no good. That is nothing to be overly concerned about. I have had material like this that was not worth the time and effort needed and ended up in the fire.
You will never get a the type of tree you are looking for from this material. It has so many things wrong with it It's hard to know where to start. But a few are; both trunks are too straight for their length, the scar from the spit won't heal, there are not enough buds were you need them, it has reverse taper and always will etc, etc. Basically, don't waste precious time with it. Invest in something more promising. Find something shorter with lots of branches or a good well tapered trunk to start with.

I have a slightly different perspective from Treeman.

I would probably forget achieving your ideal tree from this, however it is an ideal tree to learn on. Personally I would get rid of the smaller trunk completely and then cut the main trunk back to that branch stub and shoot just below the wire in the first picture. Yes you will have a large scar to deal with, but you also resolve the issues raised regarding long straight trunks and the reverse taper.

You should get a multitude of shoots growing that you can then start selecting. This in turn gives you experience on how any future tree will react to pruning and gives you an opportunity to learn how best to treat the tree in your climate and with the time you have to work on it.

The reality is that all stock material needs work. If it didn't then we would just be able to pot it without pruning etc. I wouldn't be buying any expensive stock until you are happy with your level of knowledge about both the tree and the techniques you want to use. I can still see a nice tree from this, perhaps with a scar or two, but a nice tree none the less.

where did you ge the idea to split like that?
It still will not make a twin trunk as it is still too high
remove that one completely and maybe carve the trunk out to remove the reverse taper that Treeman refers to if you can

Some low sacrifice branches might help with taper and recovery but it will be difficult to develop from here.

Ken

All is not lost.
Chop the trunk an inch from the soil surface - ie just below the split, cut back the roots and plant in the ground for a couple of years.
Then see what develops from there.

Yeah I kinda went away from original plans.

Might just let it do it's own thing for a while

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zimzallabim wrote:Yeah I kinda went away from original plans.

Might just let it do it's own thing for a while

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Mate, this will be wasting your time. Cut it right off really low. 1cm from the soil level. It should sprout all over, and you can then grow it as a clump style tree. You have had some good advice here. Do yourself a favour and don't ignore it.

Something like this

Fill your boots as they say

Sno wrote:Something like this

image.jpeg