Advice needed ash tree"

[Jamie.bonsai]

Hi all just after any advice on what my newest addition needs??

Feeding? Pruning? Etc Etc

Have done a little trim and a rough styling....

Any critique welcomed as always cheers everyone

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[Granite]

Let it grow. The Ash's best asset is its trunk. Let it fatten up and develop fissured bark!

[Boics]

Yep.
Probably not what you wanted to hear but I think it's important that you get some girth on your trunk.

Less trimming and more growing for the time being.
Wiring is fine.

[Jamie.bonsai]

Thanks yeah that is the plan, i beleive it is still very young so i have really just planned to work on the rots but haven't pulled it out to check yet... best time of year for root work and repotting for these?

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[shibui]

Winter when it is dormant would be the usual time for any root pruning/ repotting work but ash is very resilient so I suspect they would survive root reduction while actively growing as well.

Pruning can be done any time
Wiring and shaping can be done any time.

Previous advice has been to let it grow. While I agree that a good wide trunk is desirable I'm going to offer some qualifications - Taper will always be desirable, in fact, I believe that taper is even more important than just trunk diameter alone.
Leaving a single trunk tree to grow unpruned will increase the trunk diameter but will not give taper. When pruned you will have a thick stump with a single large cut - not very desirable and it will usually take many years to grow new leader, branches and for the initial scar to heal.
a far better option is to grow the tree on but with judicious pruning.
Pruning will usually produce taper in a developing trunk. It will also usually give changes in direction which will give the trunk much better character than the usual lazy S wired bends. I have also found that pruning usually results in multiple leaders, each much smaller than the main trunk below but contributing as much, maybe more growth to the tree than the single original trunk. When the excess leaders are pruned off the scars are much smaller so they are less noticeable and heal far quicker.
Even if occasional pruning slows the trunk thickness initially you end up far ahead in the end with a much better trunk and quicker final development of taper, leader and branches.
If this was my tree I'd lop it now, probably just above that small low branch, transfer it to a much larger container to allow plenty of root space to speed growth then water and feed well over summer. Next winter a severe root prune to set up better nebari (I'd lay odds that the roots are currently tangled, going in all directions and/or at different levels) then repeat the process for another year or 2 until the trunk is sufficiently developed.

[Pearcy001]

It all depends what size tree you want to end up with. Personally I'd chop just above the lowest branch in order to get some taper started, as the bark ages it will thicken too.

If you don't want to throw out the rest of the tree you could always consider an airlayer?

Cheers,
Pearcy.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

[Firecat]

My take.
Take it, 'all of it' off at the right hand branch.
All that wasted energy being used to grow a whip...things will work fine .
Steve.

[Akhi]

I suggest that you let the top part of the tree grow undeterred for this year and maybe even next whil keeping the lowest branch alive. Once you think you have the right thickness for the bottom trunk, chop just above the lowest branch. That way you get the tree stronger with good root growth so when you do chop the top, the new leader picks up quickly, heals the wound and also gets you taper. I hajust taken a pic of my 4 year old

IMG_2828.JPG

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Keep Calm and Ramify]

Jamie.bonsai,
Well that's 3 x votes for chopping & 3x votes for letting it grow. The varying opinions all seem to make sense, so I guess you can't go wrong either way. I have never grown this species of tree before, so the only advice I may add is in the form of question.
What do you want your future tree to look like, say in 10-20yrs time? - do you have an initial design / styling plan in mind that you can aim towards?
Your answer may help determine your decision to chop now or let be.
All the best ...Keep calm

[Jamie.bonsai]

I am going to let it be for another season as i have had a look at it today and there are a heap of buds popping out of the trunk from the light pruning i already gave it when i received it... i am gonna let it go and se what it does this season before making any decisions

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[shibui]

That's a fine plan Jamie. There is no need to hurry bonsai.

[Jamie.bonsai]

Ohh I know, have learned this the hard way unfortunately hahahaha killed a tree just recently and not so happy with one oh well life goes on as they say... can salcage the one im not happy with by reducing the size in a year or 2 when it new branching has formed and the plus side there is the head start on the trunk of a shohin i will be working on in the future

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[Jamie.bonsai]

Would now be a good time to defoliate to encourage the new growth?

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk

[Granite]

No. Defoliation does not invigorate growth, it promotes a reduction in leaf size (and in some instances ramification). As such, it is a technique that you would use on a bonsai rather than on pre-bonsai stock. You will encourage growth by fertilising the tree regularly and leaving it be.

[Jamie.bonsai]

Thanks for the reply

Sent from my SM-G900I using Tapatalk