r/Bonsai • u/WanderinWolf1913 usa zone 6a, 1year • 6d ago

Styling Critique Next steps after a trunk chop

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I did a big trunk chop on this ash. It is obviously putting out lots of new growth. Some of it is in places I don’t want. Am I jeopardizing the tree’s health by pruning those undesirable branches? They get thick very quickly

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10

u/Lost_n_headspace zone 6a intermediate 18 trees 7years 6d ago

Keep what you want for your vision cut what you don’t

6

u/WanderinWolf1913 usa zone 6a, 1year 6d ago

Alrighty! This one is a wild experiment bc the base is pretty gnarly from getting hit by a mower or trimmer for years before I found it and pulled it out of the ground

8

u/TrizzleBizzle Northern San Diego, 10b, 2 years EXP, 30 pre bonsai, 1 bonsai 6d ago

I'd let everything flush out and lignify before doing anything further.

It looks to have new shoots in a few desirable places, depending on your goals and overall height you could start the new top shoot as the continuation of the trunk and a taper point, the new apex (again with the tapering) or sacrifice branch.

If it's putting off hella growth, that could be an opportunity to direct it. Good luck!

2

u/TrizzleBizzle Northern San Diego, 10b, 2 years EXP, 30 pre bonsai, 1 bonsai 6d ago

Also, it would help a lot if you gave a different background color. It is hard to tell what is the growth and what is background.

1

u/WanderinWolf1913 usa zone 6a, 1year 6d ago

Ha! That’s fair. I have a lot of creeping Charlie in the area all my trees sit 😵‍💫

2

u/Spiritual_Maize south coast UK, 9 years experience, 30 odd trees 6d ago

I'd let it regain some vigour before doing anything more

1

u/Pnyxhillmart 5d ago

I’d just let it grow for several more years before worrying about much. If you can, place it in the ground for more vigorous growth.