You have had a lot of helpful comments and I am a bit late in on this. I had a branch on a european beech which was thick and growing verically, like your problem branch. I wanted to keep the branch so I made a cut through half of the branch, at the top at the junction with the trunck, placed a piece of pea gravel in to form a wedge, to hold the branch in the new position, and covered it all with balsm. It worked and the peice of pea gravel is now covered by tree!
I would keep all the lower branches and cut of the tall top leader. This will create a nice low compact broom style. It's an interesting tree no matter what you do with it!
@@grobonsai The tree is beautiful. And I am sure you will make it more so. I think if you re+ think the front of the tree it would make that branch look a lot better. Bend that leader a little more and learn to carve.
You probably dont give a shit but does someone know a trick to get back into an instagram account?? I was stupid forgot my password. I love any help you can offer me!
I'm new into bonsai and I like and appreciate your attitude towards what you do and the results of your experiments. I am also learning a lot from you, so don't be too modest about your knowledge and abilities. I'll be following you and I'm sure you'll guide me to somewhere good.
Hi. I have watched lots of your videos, and looking forward to watching more. Thanks for all the uploads. They are very helpful. Also very well presented and explained. Thanks again.
Thanks for your help on Nigel’s channel.You deserve a sub from me . I have over 200 cuttings rooting now in substrate and with rooting powder. I have mostly crimson Japanese maple and the blood good varieties. Honestly only looking to keep a few of each. Thank you again.
So sorry I missed your comment, RUclips put it in a spam folder for some reason! Anyhow, belated thanks for the sub, hope you got some cuttings to root.
Hey 👋🏻 Just wondering how you decide what time of year to light and heavy prune each of your tree species ? Or where you learnt when to ? Or if you just experiment? Thanks 😊
It’s quite a big topic to answer in comments, but the most concise answer I can give is to ask what you want to accomplish and work back from there. If you want to achieve something that needs the tree to respond with maximum energy, prune when the tree has the most energy on board. Otherwise, as long as the tree has enough energy to respond and give the desired result, any of the suitable windows will work. Heck I’m glazing over a lot of detail here. Maybe I should make a video about this. If you ask me any follow up questions you have, I’ll make a video explaining in more detail and with examples. The more you ask the better as it will help me to include all the info in a manner that helps understanding 😊
Hi I am no Bonsai expert but you really must send your tree some encouraging positive vibes for it to flourish. Your elm is not ugly it is in a period of transition rather like a grub that will change into a butterfly. If it were my tree I would leave the front branch for now and allow it to recover, regain some strength and new growth then give it the chop.
My input... remove the front branch totally as its hiding the interest thats in the trunk, which in my eyes is the main feature of this beauty. keep the height and create a literati style... but hey its your tree so your choice:)
Literati comes up a lot with this tree, but I really struggle to see a literati in it. It’s probably just my lack of vision. I do see why folks suggest it, particularly the few branches. I’ll have to put it on a turntable and have a good look. Hope you’re cool!
Thanks for the feedback, I hadn't considered literati, but you're the third person so suggest it. I'm going to get the tree out and spend some time looking at it with fresh eyes. Thanks for writing
I am not a literati fan, and I rarely consider this option. But, reading the comments I started to thing. Pondering, the tree is too high for "regular" designs. To achieve a nice informal upright I would either cut back below that dead wood, or I would work some branches in that middle section by transfixed grafting. Hence, even with new branches, I believe it would be too tall. Considering the literati style, I would cut everything, except for the top branches... maybe training them to cascade.... that would be an extreme re-styling. Nevertheless, this might be an interesting approach to that tree.... by the way, I would remove that branch, I couldn't fit it on any styling idea that I could come to.... remember thought that I am no bonsai expert, I am just a hobbyist :)
Potential to be a pretty good Bonsai. I do however think that the leader needs to be cut all the way back. Creating a completely new leader. Resulting in a thick stockier truck. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I would remove that branch overall if that is the tree's front cause it interferes the trunk's sight. I really liked the way you wired the thick branch, I've never seen that single branch wiring technique you used. Congrats
great trunk!!!!! get rid of that branch that covers the trunk, for this tree I think the trunk is the highlight and the branches should all be higher to show off the great trunk line
This I agree with, but I haven’t found the courage, I worry it will die back to the roots leaving another big dead section. Perhaps 2024 is the year it happens!!
There are no "ugly" trees only more or less remarkable trees. I'd lose that low branch if it were mine as it detracts from the shape of the trunk. Central portion of trunk has lovely movement but no branching. Hopefully it will back bud . Cheers. Sid.
Weeeelll... seeing as you asked... in relation to the low vertical branch - 2 other options might be either to 1) use a screw threaded branch bender to give it some shape and/or - 2) cut it in half lengthways for some distance and then wire it to make a y- shape. You could even use this technique of legthways splitting and bending on the trunk to radically re-style the whole tree.
Hi Darren love the channel. Im loolooking for some advice please if you can help it would be much appreciated! ..... just bought myself Japanese larch. It was pruned when i got it but iv noticed the needles just started to turn brown . The soil is damp. Also im not sure if i should change the soil if so what would you recommend. Im here in the uk .
Hi, where is it kept, how much was pruned, and what stage of growth was it in when it was pruned (dormant/buds glowing up/shaving brushes emerging/foliage out)?
@@grobonsai is there a way to send you a picture on here lol . Its kept in the sun . Its got about an inch off green growth on it. I only purchased it last week.
Sorry I misread - I have also rooted foliar cuttings of elm with high success, now is a good time for hardwood cuttings. I only bother with cork elms though, to be honest
Hi Matt. That’s a really great question. For me, it depends on a few variables: species, general health, age, the rootball, maybe others I’m forgetting at the moment. I also err on the side of caution, and treat each repot as exploratory - so rather than committing to bare rooting up front, I try to remain open minded if there is potential to bare root. One thing I have experimented with this year is to make a tea from the old soil and water the tree with it. Jury’s out so far but it definitely doesn’t do any harm. Also, if I bare root, I remove all soil; if I don’t bare root, I try to ensure a portion of the remaining rootball is completely undisturbed. Think this question deserves more detail than a simple comment can provide... in the meantime I hope that helps. Thanks, Darren
Darren I see no reason why this couldn’t be a big beautiful bonsai with more branches, at least one from each curve and balance the growth on each side. But that bottom branch does nothing for the design of the tree, you want the growth to start a little bit higher if your keeping it as a tall tree... powerful trunk, massive canopy/foliage pads. Just my opinion :) P.s. You know Darren, In my experience, Chinese elm gets going from hardwood cuttings so easily. Just occurred to me when you chucked the top on the floor. Nicely edited btw 😂
I just can’t bring myself to remove the branch while the tree is refusing to give me more than three branches 😂 get an elm they said, buds all over they said 🙂
Gro Bonsai I understand your quandary Darren I do. You could cut it off “for the meantime” 😂 it creases me every time you say that mate. But really at least it’s a sacrifice branch for the meantime and your branches should be smaller as you go up the tree toward the apex I guess. so it’s a good job you’ve fertilised it and hopefully it will bud back like hell. Grow it up as another trunk for many years? It’s just so low... But really, do you see it in a final design for the tree?
If you keep the height of the tree - cut the lower branch off. But another option is to cut the tree by 50% - lots of options from there - best of luck. thanks for sharing
im just watching the video now.. but this tree has great potential!! literati style is something i have reserved for conifers mostly since deciduous trees don't really grow in that matter in nature. and i do believe we should find a suitable style for the species of tree we are working with. pines grow differently from elms so why not look at how an elm would actually look like rather than trying to shape it as something that its not. so my proposition: this is a deciduous tree and they tend to be rather vigorous growers which makes it actually easy to deal with. i would cut the trunk back drastically. there is no need to keep it that long since not only the branches have an odd distribution but its also really hard to make something out of it and most of it has flaws going on. the trunk has some very interesting hollows in the lower third and a spectacular nebari as well as a nice taper to it. use these features and don't let them disappear because you want to keep the trunk as a whole. look at 12:38 you can see where the wire wraps around the trunk for support. this is the point where i would cut the trunk. this would make the tree much shorter and give it a very old look since the trunk would seem thicker. next i would get rid of all branches and wait for spring to get the new growth to make a new crown. there is no sense in keeping the branches that are already there since they would be disproportionate in thickness to the new branches making the tree look weird. in spring when the new growth is there you can concentrate on building the crown of the tree and wire them the way you like it. this will not only be much better for the look of the tree because the branches would grow consistently and have the same thickness but it gives you a lot more options for styling and shaping. it would drastically increase the looks of that tree and in 2 to 3 years you would have a spectacular bonsai in the formal upright style with a nice thick trunk. now.. if you are very bold you would cut the trunk at the hight of the first branch coming out at 3:39. this would leave you with a gorgeous looking stumpy tree that is really small BUT has a lot of character i would do a little carving as well to emphasize the hollowed trunk. the new branches could be styled once they grow in spring.
Hi. Great video, and awesome tree 😁 for me, in my personal opinion, the best front for the tree would be the front wich apears in the 8th minute of the video. It has some movement to the tree and it shows the dead wood on the middle section wich breaks the monotony on the main trunk. And that thick branch... for me... bahh just remove it and give a nice movemente with the new one at the base... hope i could help you making your decision 😁 congrats from Portugal
marmite? I live in the States in the one that is called West Virginia. Not the west part of Virginia, thats south of me. Just wanted to say I have quite a few bonsai myself and I love this one. Also, take that vertical branch off. It's ugly but it just needs more ramification at the top and I'd get rid of all of the lowest branches.
Its funny, but i have a bougenvillea with almost the same trunk, movement and height. After 3 years of not wanting to loose the nice deadwood section on top i decided to cut the whole top off, and now it looks much nicer. I recommend you the same. Your tree also has a bit inverse taper at the top section, which will never look good as a literati. I would choose the second, thick branch as new leader, which goes with the flow of the trunkline.
Its not an ugly tree at all. Like the thick trunk and movement. Cut off that thick bottom branch. Adjust all the wiring. Bol. Still a great tree; which I wish to own lol
Thanks Harry, I’ve still not made a decision so every idea helps 😀 In the meantime, I’m going to continue to grow and develop all branches and see what hits me 🙏
Hi. If it were my tree, i'd cut off the left branch. I feel it has no esthetic input to the whole story. Also i'd try to cascade the new apex to the left in order to see its effect on the negative space. And in my bonsai adventure i had learned, there is no long ugly tree, there is literati style. :-)
if that is the front no choice but to chop it i think and chop the trunk 50%, just above where you put that heavy wire looks too tall with not much branch.
I’ll have to google what that is. Agree that branch is in a weird location... might bring this one in and have a good look at it tomorrow.. thanks for the comments 👍
Gro Bonsai mate no sweat, thanks for the videos. It’s nice to have correspondence, I’ve been enjoying your videos for a while. I think apart from being an eye poker, IMO, it’s just too low if you’re trying to make it look like a real tree at that size. And, AND! a kiridashi is like a Stanley knife on steroids :)
You ought to be putting some movement into your primary branches with wire before they lignify.. They all appear to be growing as straight as arrow shafts. not what you want in a bonsai.
@@grobonsai it's so the movement of the branches is in sympathy to the movement of the trunk. Either trunks leans into the wind, branches blow back or, we all get blown together. Tell a story :)
My view is lose that bottom branch as it's obscuring the interesting trunk and bring down the height a fraction more. I happen to like that "ugly" tree! I can see it's potential as a graceful literati in the future. Cheers
Get rid of all the lower branches. Bend the thicker of the two top branches down to the right, bend the thinner top branch down and around the back and out the left side of the top, maybe even around into the front of the trunk. In the end you have a literati. That middle bottom branch can't be there, regardless of how you proceed with the tree, it adds nothing and looks awful.
Leave it till next spring and air layer it. You could do some carving next summer so it will integrate with your main trunk. Then you could broaden the small opening of the two trunks by carving there also.
Thank you Martin! I was looking at the potential to air layer recently, I don’t think I’ll go for it. There is scope to reduce the height though - definitely. I appreciate you taking the time to give me your ideas - ideas are always welcome 🙏
I also thought the same when I was editing the video, sometimes I think too much about the camera angles and don't step back to check progress. My excuse is I really wanted to provoke back buds on the bare section of trunk 2/3rd up. (It hasn't work lol)
@@grobonsai I'm relatively new to bonsai trees, your knowledge surpasses mine, I watched your video to learn more, which I have, after watching this video I took the plunge and trimmed & wired my Elm,
![FNAF vs TF2 - Episode 2 [SFM]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/z5b3V2-VLb0/mqdefault.jpg)
You have had a lot of helpful comments and I am a bit late in on this. I had a branch on a european beech which was thick and growing verically, like your problem branch. I wanted to keep the branch so I made a cut through half of the branch, at the top at the junction with the trunck, placed a piece of pea gravel in to form a wedge, to hold the branch in the new position, and covered it all with balsm. It worked and the peice of pea gravel is now covered by tree!
Sounds like an interesting and useful technique, thanks
I would keep all the lower branches and cut of the tall top leader. This will create a nice low compact broom style. It's an interesting tree no matter what you do with it!
Oh that's an idea - thanks Nigel!
Wow Nigel, As busy as you are and you still find more time to help someone with another tree. Way to go. I watch all your videos.
@@grobonsai The tree is beautiful. And I am sure you will make it more so. I think if you re+ think the front of the tree it would make that branch look a lot better. Bend that leader a little more and learn to carve.
Thanks Alice
You probably dont give a shit but does someone know a trick to get back into an instagram account??
I was stupid forgot my password. I love any help you can offer me!
Air layer the top just above were the tree moves to the left. Remove the low front branche. You can aspect a lot of backbranching in doing so.
I'm new into bonsai and I like and appreciate your attitude towards what you do and the results of your experiments. I am also learning a lot from you, so don't be too modest about your knowledge and abilities. I'll be following you and I'm sure you'll guide me to somewhere good.
Thank you that’s really kind!
This ugly duckling could become a very fine swan indeed!Time will tell.Great videos keep them coming.
Thanks very much, I’ll do my best 😅
First time I've come across this channel I think. I enjoyed watching your videos tonight
Thanks for watching 😀
Hi. I have watched lots of your videos, and looking forward to watching more. Thanks for all the uploads. They are very helpful. Also very well presented and explained. Thanks again.
Thanks so much for the kind words! Due to current events and workload I have been struggling to make time, but I’m going to get back on it
Thanks for your help on Nigel’s channel.You deserve a sub from me . I have over 200 cuttings rooting now in substrate and with rooting powder. I have mostly crimson Japanese maple and the blood good varieties. Honestly only looking to keep a few of each. Thank you again.
So sorry I missed your comment, RUclips put it in a spam folder for some reason! Anyhow, belated thanks for the sub, hope you got some cuttings to root.
Hey 👋🏻
Just wondering how you decide what time of year to light and heavy prune each of your tree species ?
Or where you learnt when to ? Or if you just experiment?
Thanks 😊
It’s quite a big topic to answer in comments, but the most concise answer I can give is to ask what you want to accomplish and work back from there. If you want to achieve something that needs the tree to respond with maximum energy, prune when the tree has the most energy on board. Otherwise, as long as the tree has enough energy to respond and give the desired result, any of the suitable windows will work. Heck I’m glazing over a lot of detail here. Maybe I should make a video about this. If you ask me any follow up questions you have, I’ll make a video explaining in more detail and with examples. The more you ask the better as it will help me to include all the info in a manner that helps understanding 😊
You’ve got quite a unique specimen.
I’d add my suggestion but seeing that Nigel has 😉. Good luck, really nice tree.
Thanks Matt
Me gusta tu conversacion. Es lenta y para mi que no hablo el ingles fluido se me hace facil comprender y aprender.
Hi I am no Bonsai expert but you really must send your tree some encouraging positive vibes for it to flourish. Your elm is not ugly it is in a period of transition rather like a grub that will change into a butterfly. If it were my tree I would leave the front branch for now and allow it to recover, regain some strength and new growth then give it the chop.
Thanks Janet - some very valid points there 🙏
🙏
My input... remove the front branch totally as its hiding the interest thats in the trunk, which in my eyes is the main feature of this beauty.
keep the height and create a literati style...
but hey its your tree so your choice:)
Literati comes up a lot with this tree, but I really struggle to see a literati in it. It’s probably just my lack of vision. I do see why folks suggest it, particularly the few branches. I’ll have to put it on a turntable and have a good look. Hope you’re cool!
I'm not a bonsai master by any means, but I do think this would look fantastic as literati style.
Thanks for the feedback, I hadn't considered literati, but you're the third person so suggest it. I'm going to get the tree out and spend some time looking at it with fresh eyes. Thanks for writing
I am not a literati fan, and I rarely consider this option. But, reading the comments I started to thing. Pondering, the tree is too high for "regular" designs. To achieve a nice informal upright I would either cut back below that dead wood, or I would work some branches in that middle section by transfixed grafting. Hence, even with new branches, I believe it would be too tall. Considering the literati style, I would cut everything, except for the top branches... maybe training them to cascade.... that would be an extreme re-styling. Nevertheless, this might be an interesting approach to that tree.... by the way, I would remove that branch, I couldn't fit it on any styling idea that I could come to.... remember thought that I am no bonsai expert, I am just a hobbyist :)
Potential to be a pretty good Bonsai. I do however think that the leader needs to be cut all the way back. Creating a completely new leader. Resulting in a thick stockier truck. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks Claud, there’s a definite trend emerging in favour of the chop
I am not an expert by any means but personally i would leave the lower branches for the time being and chop the main leader down a bit.
where did u get your knob cutters from? what size?
You could even do some airlayering with the top to get Another elm
Good point, I’ll have a look
I would remove that branch overall if that is the tree's front cause it interferes the trunk's sight.
I really liked the way you wired the thick branch, I've never seen that single branch wiring technique you used. Congrats
Thanks for the input. Credit to Ryan Neil of Bonsai Mirai for the wiring, I stole it from him 🙂
great trunk!!!!! get rid of that branch that covers the trunk, for this tree I think the trunk is the highlight and the branches should all be higher to show off the great trunk line
This I agree with, but I haven’t found the courage, I worry it will die back to the roots leaving another big dead section. Perhaps 2024 is the year it happens!!
There are no "ugly" trees only more or less remarkable trees. I'd lose that low branch if it were mine as it detracts from the shape of the trunk. Central portion of trunk has lovely movement but no branching. Hopefully it will back bud . Cheers. Sid.
Good points well made. Just one bud so far, on the trunk. We’ll see what happens in Spring. Thanks Sid
@@grobonsai Welcome.
Weeeelll... seeing as you asked... in relation to the low vertical branch - 2 other options might be either to 1) use a screw threaded branch bender to give it some shape and/or - 2) cut it in half lengthways for some distance and then wire it to make a y- shape. You could even use this technique of legthways splitting and bending on the trunk to radically re-style the whole tree.
It sounds like your vote is to keep the low branch, but give it some movement. Thanks for taking the time!
Hi Darren love the channel. Im loolooking for some advice please if you can help it would be much appreciated! ..... just bought myself Japanese larch. It was pruned when i got it but iv noticed the needles just started to turn brown . The soil is damp. Also im not sure if i should change the soil if so what would you recommend. Im here in the uk .
Hi, where is it kept, how much was pruned, and what stage of growth was it in when it was pruned (dormant/buds glowing up/shaving brushes emerging/foliage out)?
@@grobonsai is there a way to send you a picture on here lol . Its kept in the sun . Its got about an inch off green growth on it. I only purchased it last week.
Sure, email is grobonsai at gmail dot com or instagram @grobonsai via DM
Have you tried rooting cuttings of elm? I was thinking of trying some.
Yes they work well, planted some cork elm root cuttings the other day and planted a couple off the tree in this vid last year
Sorry I misread - I have also rooted foliar cuttings of elm with high success, now is a good time for hardwood cuttings. I only bother with cork elms though, to be honest
Mark here again what else does the protroleum jelly prevent besides excessive drying out?
That’s all it does really. It’s a poor substitute for cut paste. I ran out ages ago and need to order some more (but have a terrible memory)
Off topic.
When you repot from nursery stock do you bare root it or incorporate a fair amount of nursery soil with the new bonsai soil? Thanks
Hi Matt. That’s a really great question. For me, it depends on a few variables: species, general health, age, the rootball, maybe others I’m forgetting at the moment. I also err on the side of caution, and treat each repot as exploratory - so rather than committing to bare rooting up front, I try to remain open minded if there is potential to bare root. One thing I have experimented with this year is to make a tea from the old soil and water the tree with it. Jury’s out so far but it definitely doesn’t do any harm. Also, if I bare root, I remove all soil; if I don’t bare root, I try to ensure a portion of the remaining rootball is completely undisturbed. Think this question deserves more detail than a simple comment can provide... in the meantime I hope that helps. Thanks, Darren
Bare root is the very last thing one should do.
Darren I see no reason why this couldn’t be a big beautiful bonsai with more branches, at least one from each curve and balance the growth on each side. But that bottom branch does nothing for the design of the tree, you want the growth to start a little bit higher if your keeping it as a tall tree... powerful trunk, massive canopy/foliage pads. Just my opinion :)
P.s. You know Darren, In my experience, Chinese elm gets going from hardwood cuttings so easily. Just occurred to me when you chucked the top on the floor.
Nicely edited btw 😂
I just can’t bring myself to remove the branch while the tree is refusing to give me more than three branches 😂 get an elm they said, buds all over they said 🙂
Gro Bonsai I understand your quandary Darren I do.
You could cut it off “for the meantime” 😂 it creases me every time you say that mate.
But really at least it’s a sacrifice branch for the meantime and your branches should be smaller as you go up the tree toward the apex I guess. so it’s a good job you’ve fertilised it and hopefully it will bud back like hell.
Grow it up as another trunk for many years? It’s just so low...
But really, do you see it in a final design for the tree?
What time of year to prune?
If you keep the height of the tree - cut the lower branch off. But another option is to cut the tree by 50% - lots of options from there - best of luck. thanks for sharing
Thanks, this is the dilemma. I’ve decided, like I usually do in this situation, to let it grow and see what it wants to do 🙂
im just watching the video now.. but this tree has great potential!! literati style is something i have reserved for conifers mostly since deciduous trees don't really grow in that matter in nature. and i do believe we should find a suitable style for the species of tree we are working with. pines grow differently from elms so why not look at how an elm would actually look like rather than trying to shape it as something that its not. so my proposition: this is a deciduous tree and they tend to be rather vigorous growers which makes it actually easy to deal with. i would cut the trunk back drastically. there is no need to keep it that long since not only the branches have an odd distribution but its also really hard to make something out of it and most of it has flaws going on. the trunk has some very interesting hollows in the lower third and a spectacular nebari as well as a nice taper to it. use these features and don't let them disappear because you want to keep the trunk as a whole. look at 12:38 you can see where the wire wraps around the trunk for support. this is the point where i would cut the trunk. this would make the tree much shorter and give it a very old look since the trunk would seem thicker. next i would get rid of all branches and wait for spring to get the new growth to make a new crown. there is no sense in keeping the branches that are already there since they would be disproportionate in thickness to the new branches making the tree look weird. in spring when the new growth is there you can concentrate on building the crown of the tree and wire them the way you like it. this will not only be much better for the look of the tree because the branches would grow consistently and have the same thickness but it gives you a lot more options for styling and shaping. it would drastically increase the looks of that tree and in 2 to 3 years you would have a spectacular bonsai in the formal upright style with a nice thick trunk. now.. if you are very bold you would cut the trunk at the hight of the first branch coming out at 3:39. this would leave you with a gorgeous looking stumpy tree that is really small BUT has a lot of character i would do a little carving as well to emphasize the hollowed trunk. the new branches could be styled once they grow in spring.
Thanks so much for your feedback - that’s a super helpful comment
@@grobonsai hope to see a video on the restyling soon. this tree would look soon good if you did!
Would the tree be for sale by any chance?
Hi, feel free to drop an email to grobonsai@gmail.com
Hi. Great video, and awesome tree 😁 for me, in my personal opinion, the best front for the tree would be the front wich apears in the 8th minute of the video. It has some movement to the tree and it shows the dead wood on the middle section wich breaks the monotony on the main trunk. And that thick branch... for me... bahh just remove it and give a nice movemente with the new one at the base... hope i could help you making your decision 😁 congrats from Portugal
Thanks Joao, that’s very helpful 👍
Yes the front one has to be take off or shorter so you can see the scar that is in front.
I see what you mean, thanks. Will need to update this one soon, now you mention it 👍
marmite? I live in the States in the one that is called West Virginia. Not the west part of Virginia, thats south of me. Just wanted to say I have quite a few bonsai myself and I love this one. Also, take that vertical branch off. It's ugly but it just needs more ramification at the top and I'd get rid of all of the lowest branches.
Thanks 🙏 Marmite is a British spread that people tend to either love or hate... Thanks for stopping by!
I like the second option. The branch wouldn't be covering the trunk.
Loose the branch!! If you don’t I’ll find a way to chop it myself!! SHOUT FROM CANADA!
Its funny, but i have a bougenvillea with almost the same trunk, movement and height. After 3 years of not wanting to loose the nice deadwood section on top i decided to cut the whole top off, and now it looks much nicer. I recommend you the same. Your tree also has a bit inverse taper at the top section, which will never look good as a literati. I would choose the second, thick branch as new leader, which goes with the flow of the trunkline.
Great observations, thanks 🙏
Its not an ugly tree at all. Like the thick trunk and movement. Cut off that thick bottom branch. Adjust all the wiring. Bol. Still a great tree; which I wish to own lol
Ok thanks 🙏
At 13:24 I'd trunk chop it back to the branch on the right hand side, and continue to develope it from there
Thanks Harry, I’ve still not made a decision so every idea helps 😀 In the meantime, I’m going to continue to grow and develop all branches and see what hits me 🙏
All the best, just giving you somthing to chew on, let us know what you do decide on!
Hi. If it were my tree, i'd cut off the left branch. I feel it has no esthetic input to the whole story. Also i'd try to cascade the new apex to the left in order to see its effect on the negative space. And in my bonsai adventure i had learned, there is no long ugly tree, there is literati style. :-)
Hmmm interesting points, I’ll have a look, thanks for writing.
if that is the front no choice but to chop it i think and chop the trunk 50%, just above where you put that heavy wire looks too tall with not much branch.
Thanks for the feedback Matt, appreciate it 🙏
For the time being, I’m just going to cut this off 😂 lovely stuff Darren. Your tools look solid mate. You could do with a kirudashi though!
I’ll have to google what that is. Agree that branch is in a weird location... might bring this one in and have a good look at it tomorrow.. thanks for the comments 👍
Ah got it.. yes a better knife would make life easier
Gro Bonsai mate no sweat, thanks for the videos. It’s nice to have correspondence, I’ve been enjoying your videos for a while.
I think apart from being an eye poker, IMO, it’s just too low if you’re trying to make it look like a real tree at that size.
And, AND! a kiridashi is like a Stanley knife on steroids :)
I’d air layer it midway up from the base.
Thanks, will bring it in the workshop next week or so, and make some decisions 👍
You ought to be putting some movement into your primary branches with wire before they lignify..
They all appear to be growing as straight as arrow shafts. not what you want in a bonsai.
They lignified long before the tree came into my garden, but all is not lost... thanks for writing Graham 🙏
Great video. Love that pot!
Thank you 🙏 the pot is an Erin special edition. It’s the only container I had that would fit the roots without cutting too much off 😬
Repot the trunk off vertical and, as you asked :) that lower branch is hideous, especially with that front, it sits in front of the trunk
I’ll have a look next repot, thanks
@@grobonsai it's so the movement of the branches is in sympathy to the movement of the trunk. Either trunks leans into the wind, branches blow back or, we all get blown together. Tell a story :)
Should make more angle cut and less staight cuts
The music, 80s p.0rn music lol
Lol I’m too poor for good music
My view is lose that bottom branch as it's obscuring the interesting trunk and bring down the height a fraction more. I happen to like that "ugly" tree! I can see it's potential as a graceful literati in the future. Cheers
Cheers Mandie, I think this tree is ready for a bit more work. (I thought I was the only one who liked it 🙂)
Get rid of all the lower branches. Bend the thicker of the two top branches down to the right, bend the thinner top branch down and around the back and out the left side of the top, maybe even around into the front of the trunk. In the end you have a literati.
That middle bottom branch can't be there, regardless of how you proceed with the tree, it adds nothing and looks awful.
Thank you Bob 🙏
Air layer the top off
Thanks for your tips, appreciated
Move it tord the right.
Yeah, "knob cutter" is not a word you want to hear from your doctor.
😱😂
The branch in Front is in the way of the trunk... cut it away and carve some holes
As a hollow trunk
I think I’ll have to do something. I might cut it back to the lowest secondary branch and see how it looks...
from tree to twig . oh dear :0(
Thanks for watching
Mark here Nigel's got the right idea there👍👌 nice video excellent work! 🤙✌️
Thanks Mark 👍
Leave it till next spring and air layer it. You could do some carving next summer so it will integrate with your main trunk. Then you could broaden the small opening of the two trunks by carving there also.
Thank you Martin! I was looking at the potential to air layer recently, I don’t think I’ll go for it. There is scope to reduce the height though - definitely. I appreciate you taking the time to give me your ideas - ideas are always welcome 🙏
You could also remove the callus from the backside of the front branch and bind it to the maintrunk til it is integrated
I like your thinking. I don’t think I’ll go for that, this time, thanks 🙏
In my opinion you cut way to much away. But that's just my thought.
I also thought the same when I was editing the video, sometimes I think too much about the camera angles and don't step back to check progress. My excuse is I really wanted to provoke back buds on the bare section of trunk 2/3rd up. (It hasn't work lol)
@@grobonsai I'm relatively new to bonsai trees, your knowledge surpasses mine, I watched your video to learn more, which I have, after watching this video I took the plunge and trimmed & wired my Elm,
All opinions are welcome, glad the vid helped 👍
Cut it off blocking view of trunk
Remove it..
Hack it off.
Thanks Jim. Mixed response on this tree, but all opinions and ideas are helpful.
Use your mouth to talk not your hands. Very off putting.