AusBonsai

Hi folks picked up this cedar on a nursery crawl with my club a couple of months back, i repoted it a couple of weeks ago.
I really loved the first bend but appart from that it all goes ugly as the trunks straight and very little taper so was thinking about cutting it to these lines.
Any input would be really really appreciated.

Hi Ricardo, I don't think you have any option but to cut it to the first red line if you really want to make something of it. You will then have to spend a few years re-growing it. If you want to keep it at its current height you could very easily put more movement into the trunk with wire and raffia but that would not solve the taper issue. I think cutting and re-growing is the best option.
Craig

that was my thought but do u think its too earlie after repoting and the right time of year for such a cut?

Hi Riardo, about 3 weeks ago i repotted and took alot of branches off my Golden Deodara, and wasn't too sure if it would pull thru. Today the new buds look about ready to burst, so ,in my case it worked out ok.. maybe if your not sure you can take the top off in two seasons, half this year and train the new leader a little, and mext year take the whole top off?? just a thought,,,, cheers the other Craig p.s- i did leave a stub where the old trunk was, like you would with a pine, tho i'm not sure if it's necessary with cedars

Hi Ricardo, I am assuming your cedar is atlas, they are not so forgiving as deodar, I usually repot mine during the warm months as I have found the recovery is much quicker. The only problem I can see with doing the cut now would be wobbling the tree around when the new roots are forming otherwise no drama.
I learned about the potting season from BSV member many years ago he told me to repot the atlas cedars on the hottest day of the year, I have never been that extreme but I do pot them in january and have found the needle drop to be minimal.
Craigw

thanks for the tip, looks like this trees going under the knife tomorow, should i flat cut or make a jin?

so last chance to jin or not to jin that is the question

Gee, isn't it nice when someone asks for styling advice and provides the viewers with a good photographic record!!
Congrats and thanks.
Yes, that trunk has to be shortened, imho there's no way around it. I would cut (oblique) it at the first red line too... unless you want to deadwood the portion above that line. And why not?
Something no-one has mentioned, and that is that you should experiment with tilting the tree in all directions before you cut anything. It's really out of kelter now and that bottom curve, plus the straight trunk, can make a completely different impression, depending on the way it's tilted. Also, tilting would affect the length of the deadwood part, in case you opt for that feature.
BTW, when you repot your cedar in the warm season, be sure to leave it in a wind free, shady area for a long time. I killed mine because I moved it too soon to its usual bench spot (dappled sun, a bit windy).
Have fun! Cedars are lovely.

Lisa

You might as well jin because you can always chop it off later. It can't be the other way around!

I also vote for a chop after the first branch. With nice movement of the lower trunk. The chop will create a nicer taper. It will be a great tree in a few years to come.
Cheers,
DK

Lisa is correct part shade until the tree starts moving again. With regards to the jin its up to you, if it were my tree I would grow it a bit taller over the next few years in which case a jin would be redundant.
Craigw

Chop at the first line with no jin, i think that jin can be over done sometimes.

In reference to when...I have a lebanese cedar and do that when it is growing, but I am unsure...

thanks for the help every one the cut is done quite happy with it although never really thougt about tilting but whats done is done:D just a question with the cut paste
do i leave it on or take it off after a while if so how long?

nice work,now grow, grow,grow.. cut paste can stay on ,, Craig

If you want the scar to heal over the paste should be applied as thin as you can, and should be kept of the edges as you have it now.

Start wiring now with those branches while they are young.

Cheers Pup