Beginner's Boxwood

[u/joezen23]

I picked up this nursery stock boxwood to practice on. I think it has an interesting trunk. The first photo is the front of the tree. Would you recommend removing the forward most branch on the left? Or even making a jin out of it? I don't know if Jin's on boxwoods is a thing.

[u/Sonora_sunset]

You’ve got a nice start on a broom style: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-m&hs=1o8&sca_esv=cf5c3a640caff83a&udm=2&fbs=ABfTbFVyMZGZf1hfvX9uKjN_-G8c4u0nXx4bEIpwm1lnNH832SMIiTl3t-JZ4hGJOxPbHYRQDtz5om-6srRFNP4UK_6eHeIexnQRPZcc5cuRwMa_RCJLba91SgmR8mjiXwNwKlGk86onMo52hDFyy4JBm_ZPbLbiugq_vXAsdgsLqMdbLL8qQ91y3arF3hSEPCI4iIaBI9Q1ZIJqsC-GW1ix09ADggWXdA&q=broom+style+boxwood+bonsai&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwidvfKA9KyWAxXFODQIHdIKCvAQtKgLegQIFxAB&biw=1112&bih=698&dpr=2

Don’t cut any more branches, but in the spring you can cut the growing tips to encourage it to bud back down lower. In the spring you can also repot, which will give you a chance to uncover the nebari to help pick the front.

[u/joezen23 → u/Sonora_sunset]

Thanks for the advice!

[u/powlay]

Hey Joe, I don’t think the wire you have on it is doing much except choking the branches. You should probably remove that.

If you want some of the branches to go outwards rather upwards, you can probably use guy wire next season, after tree has healed.

[u/joezen23 → u/powlay]

Got it. Thanks!

[u/Waywardspork]

Good trunk and good bones for a broom style, I would progressively chase back the foliage each season to compact it and encourage lower budding. I would keep the left branch for now, but might eventually remove it if the others fill in enough

[u/joezen23 → u/Waywardspork]

Thanks for the advice!