This is a picture of the other tree I got for free. This one too seems to have been neglected quite some time, the branches have not been pruned and have become too long. The trunk is nice and thick - but the roots are not so nice.
While the trunk is thick, it could use more taper.

Plans for this year:
- Put it in a larger pot, replace the soil, probably no root pruning yet
- Prune the branches that are too long
- As usual: Let it grow

Any ideas on the development of this tree?

Looks like an apple, crapapple maybe? If so, you could consider layering new roots, a bit higher. I did with a 7cm trunk last year, without any real trouble.

Furthermore.. Select one of the main branche and create a new leader, I'd say. Maybe the front one?

leatherback wrote: Looks like an apple, crapapple maybe? If so, you could consider layering new roots, a bit higher. I did with a 7cm trunk last year, without any real trouble.

Furthermore.. Select one of the main branche and create a new leader, I'd say. Maybe the front one?

Ah yes, forgot to mention it's a crabapple.

Air layering is a good idea. I'm not sure if I'm going to try that this year, obviously my main goal is to keep it alive.
New leader could be a good idea, but it would leave a very big wound...

Auk wrote: New leader could be a good idea, but it would leave a very big wound...

one of these days I will show you a crabapple in my yard with a large wound. They seem to be able to heal over well, if you have a bit of canopy growing to do. THat is what I keep telling muself at least .

Never mind MY trees with big cutmarks.. Check out these, halfway down...

www.kensworldofbonsai.com/id91.html

Here's an update. I got a bigger pot... that I dropped. It's a chinese ceramic puzzle now.
So, I potted it back in its original (plastic...) pot. It'll have to stay in there this year.

I slightly tilted the tree so the big root is now on the ground, which looks better.
It is producing lots of flowers. I could have removed so the tree could put more energy in new branches, but I wanted to see the flowers - and apart from that, it's growing well already and is even backbudding in the right places
After it has blossomed, I will remove the flowers, so it won't produce apples. I'll than also reduce the branches by about half so next year I hope to have a far more compact tree with a better silhouette.

Pictures:

Looks great man!
The flowers are pretty, and so is the tree.
Is it perhaps an idea to cut off the long straight branch, growing to the left on your last photograph off the frontbranch and wire the curved part a little down?

Dropping stuff is never fun, it makes such sad puzzles..

This will make an excellent tree, have lots of fun with it!

Contrainer wrote: Is it perhaps an idea to cut off the long straight branch, growing to the left on your last photograph off the frontbranch and wire the curved part a little down?

I have certainly considered it so I consulted the bonsai-teacher that visits our club at club meetings.
He said "It's an apple, they grow like that" meaning that I shouldn't worry about it and respect the nature of the tree.

I'm not too sure if I agree. I think doing what you propose could make it look better.
However, the most important lesson I have learned over the years: you can always do that later. There's no rush.
It's easy to cut off a branch, but you can do that only once. It's much harder to grow one back.

So... I'll prune the long branches to make the tree more compact, then I'll leave it alone again.
Next year I'll reconsider.

You're right, there is no rush, after all, we have the time of our life.
As my mom always says: "you can saw it off, but you can't saw it back on."

Sometimes it's disappointing that time does not have a fast forward, but I guess since it doesn't being patient is the best option

Looks like it has brilliant possibilities, i can see it, in the future as a kind of leaning-ish informal upright broomy kind of style in my mind. I love those flowers and similar blossoms because it means that summer is round the corner .