Hello everyone.
Last weekend i decided to re style my ligustrum, it looked very heavy and dense so i went ahead and trimmed it hard.
Tell me what you think.

The second picture is nasty, i'll upload a new one asap.

Hi there,

Nice little tree you have there. I think you have done a good job, but maybe you are not completely finished

In bonsai, typically you do not want main branches to come of the trunk at the same height above the soil; What you have now are 2 thick branches at the lowqest point of the canopy, effectively creating a feel of symmetry that just is not right. A general rule of thum is: If you have a twisted trunkline, avoid having branches come out of an 'inner bend'. That would mean: Of the two branches, the left one should be removed.

Looking further up the tree, you see a smaller branch going almost vertical. This I would let grow out a little, to create a taller tree with a more tapered feel to the trunkline.

I *think* this is a tree you bought in a store, amd I right? The tree does need a little more trimming, and re-growing of branches in my opinion. I do not have the time to look into the tree too deeply now. Will try to over the weekend.

Hi Diogo! It's good to hear from you.

This is a really fine looking tree and you have done a good job. I think leatherback has given some very sound advice. Well done and, keep up the great work!

Hey again!

Sorry for the late reply, i just had a crazy week at the university.

Thanks for the advice guys. The thing is, i was only going to give if at little trim here and there, as autumn was starting, but when i was halfway through i looked at the tree and thought: "WOOPS" i had trimmed way too much. So i just went along and tried to give it a big style change. Because of this i didn't plan what i was doing before hand.
The tree was given to my girlfriend as birthday gift, i suspect it was bought in a random store, Leatherback. Altho its not very pretty i still hope one day, i can make a nice bonsai out of it, so all help is welcome.

Has anyone else noticed that the trunk of this tree looks like a human figure?

Didn't notice until you mentioned it. :lol:

... neat -- that's what I think, sounds like she may be a one armed lady soon though.

Yes! Very true, those two branches are too opposite, you will need to choose one that you want to keep and remover the other one. Otherwise they will represent the handlebar effect

Great start here. Leatherback is right about the branching. One great thing about privets is they bounce back well from hard pruning so don't be afraid. Your in Portugal so you could do all the work right now.
It's easy for us to say what needs to be done because it's not our tree. Every time I hard prune a tree I get a anxious because I'm convinced that I'm going to ruin the tree. It hasn't happened yet though.
Happy pruning.
Lance