Saw this on Instagram.... may take longer than three years....

If you chop down to the first branch there will be a trunk that appear to continue to that branch and lose half or more diameter. Would you leave it to even out over the next 100 years? Or would you carve zsome of the trunk off, creating some taller?

Would you the answer be different if you were 21 than if you were 71?

Ivan Mann wrote: Would you the answer be different if you were 21 than if you were 71?

Definitely yes.

Clicio wrote:

Ivan Mann wrote: Would you the answer be different if you were 21 than if you were 71?

Definitely yes.

That is why I am glad I got into bonsai at age 23

LaoTzu wrote: I am fastidious about nipping off growth in the crown, but the tree still wants to prioritise the crown and growth in lower branches getting less and less and further from the trunk, with no sign of hte back budding I need for a healthy little tree...

Worried if I cut back lower branches to where I want buds, they simply wont grow... Should I sacrifice some of the branches in the crown and then risk a really thorough prune....? Or will I kill it if not left with enough leaves..?

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m5eaygeoff wrote: This plant is top dominant, and you need to keep on top of the top growth. I would not have any wire on it.

Felidae wrote: But why you opened a new topic for the tree?

Whoops, chopped a chunk off the top and moved thread here...

Just as a little update - as a newbie I decided not to do anything drastic... Initially I kept this indoors and it was never healthy, so this winter let it winter out and it has appreciated the dormant period, sprining back to life with new vigour. Its in a new pot, and a change of angle. In three years just trying to develop branches to make most I can of the shape. Crown still needs more work. Might be a little more drastic...


Talking of branch development, this was one of its branches from last year. Just popped it in a tiny pot with some rooting powder and left outside with a little clingfilm over all winter. Forgot about it, gave up for dead, but I think I have a little mame ulmus in development!

Just a little update - while others are being more creative and drastic, still just aiming to make this the best it can be by working on overall shape, ramification, taper etc.
I know its probably unconventional and possibly frowned on at this time of year (almost spring in UK), but I have just defoliated. Was still in full leaf and I wanted to see the branch structure before new growth came in...

LaoTzu wrote: I know its probably unconventional and possibly frowned on at this time of year (almost spring in UK)

Eyebrows both frown and raise.

- Raised eyebrows: Defoliating now. I'd say that's too soon. The plant will now not have leaves when it needs 'm in spring.
- Frowned: Defoliating. I don't think this plant is a development state where defoliating would improve its design

(But... I guess you didn't remove the buds so probably it's not so bad)

i would probably work on branch structure before defoliating. looks like you have branches going all over the place. come the right time i would work on removing/ wire branches growing up or down get a little more flatter pads in other words. in its current state its structure looks a little messy.

Thanks both - appreciate constructive criticism. Agree still messy - especially crown. Should have seen it before I tidied it...

My overall plan is to move away from 'pads' to get a more natural looking tree i.e. trying to let growth spread a little to fill the gaps so when in leaf there is a full canopy rather than individual pads - if that makes sense..? I am tempted to take a little of Walter Palls advice and just 'hedge prune' till more full, then perhaps some wiring further down line. What do you think..?

Agree defoliating didnt improve design - just removed last years leaves to see what was going on as it kept them all winter... I will post an update to let you know whether I killed it or not!