AusBonsai

Struggling to understand ramification technique especially for deciduous trees. It would be kind if someone could explain it. Or recccommened good online literature.
Thanks.
Dips

If you can get a copy of bonsai with Japanese/trident maples by Peter D. Adams . some of the best explained and illustration on trunk building, and branch building I have come across . pic below is a very basic outlay of how to change branch direction and increase secondary branching through pruning

The numbers refer to cuts.
In reality it should end up looking like this..

Thank you Matthew for reccommeding the book. Maple is one of my fav tree. I checked just now in eBay that cost $36. So thinking should I spend on that or not?

Thank you Treeman for the first illustration. That makes sense to me. All steps in one single diagram. One more question on that:is a cut roughly after every 2 buds?

Dips wrote:Thank you Treeman for the first illustration. That makes sense to me. All steps in one single diagram. One more question on that:is a cut roughly after every 2 buds?

It can be after one node or bud or after 4. It just depends on the branch in relation to the tree and how far along it has come. The bigger the tree the longer the straight lines can be, the smaller the tree the shorter any straight line should be.
Also, very small leaves usually means very close buds so you can leave more of them.
The lessons never end. For instance, as your trees become more and more ramified, you need to anticipate what each branch is going to do and correct it to what you want it to do - make room for one branch tip by cutting back another - that sort of thing.

Thanks treeman for further explanation. I am now thinking to wait till spring and practice this on fast and easy growing my fav tree Chinese elms.

Hi everyone, if you want to add something on this topic, will be highly appreciated.

Hi Treeman, Do you know any tree that would be the best to practice the technique you shared and explained today? Thanks.

Hi All
Here is "treeman" in action with his Japanese maples if you haven't seen this video yet. Fantastic information and hopefully helps this discussion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c3q2jiGh8o

Trident maples are quick growing trees with opposite buds and are very forgiving of mistakes or less than optimum pruning so excellent to learn from.
Chinese elm have alternate budding so ramify slightly differently but also fast growing, tough and resilient so also worth experimenting with.

When developing ramification try to introduce random appearance to the branches. Some movement back and forth, some up and down also in the branch.
Decreasing internodes also looks good so eliminate any shoots with long internodes completely even if you still need branch extension. Only retain shoots with short internodes to make future branches and twigs.

Thanks DavidN for sharing such informative video, thank you shibui for your helpful information.