Tennessee Privet

This tree has been posted before. This is after a hard pruning.

I posted this last year,,dug it from a cow pasture .. I did a hard pruning to see the branches.. is this ok or do I need to change it to another style ???? remove branches to make the tree more compact or smaller ??? comments welcome take care john

You have three competing apexes. Choose one & cut off the other two.
Wire the outer branches down so they are not all up in the air.
Keep pinching the ends of branches so it will back bud closer to the trunk.
Iris

I disagree. I think that this image is well on the way to an open deciduous tree shape, just as we find in nature. It just needs more ramification. If it were pruned to one line and then given tight pads closer to the trunk with horizontal branches it will look more like a pine.

bonsaisr wrote:You have three competing apexes. Choose one & cut off the other two.
Wire the outer branches down so they are not all up in the air.

I wouldnt do this either - you will get a very bland and predictable tree collection if you style everything like this. For a little more inspiration look at images for 'broom' style trees - they have many rising branches and look realistic, as do all good deciduous image bonsai...it takes a little more thought and artistry to get the image right but the results are far more rewarding than the easy option of just flattening all branches with wire.

personally i think there is a better front where the inverse taper and bulge in the trunk are not so obvious - if you can find that viewing angle and take a picture it would be good - then the branches can be pruned to suit.

cheers Marcus

moyogijohn wrote:
This tree has been posted before. This is after a hard pruning.

You're well on your way with this one. Don't change the style, as the others said. Since it's presently about as broad as it will be as a finished tree, you'll need to chase back the branches a tad. Otherwise pinch the new shoots as they emerge.

Love cow pasture privets!

Zach

I too disagree. However, you might shorten the left hand branch to closer resemble the right side branch, then let the middle grow upward a BIT faster than the branches to either side to give you something between the boring isosceles triangle shape so many bonsai are given and a rounded shape common to many deciduous trees.

Thank You,, Iris JmcCoy Marcus,Zach ,Jim,, for your comments.. can,t change the front because the cows ate the back side of the trunk.. i can pinch to get back budding.. i will shorten the long branch to even them out.... thanks for all these suggestions !!! i think it can be a nice tree with time. take care all john

moyogijohn wrote:Thank You,, Iris JmcCoy Marcus,Zach ,Jim,, for your comments.. can,t change the front because the cows ate the back side of the trunk..

Hi,
I think the right side as we see the picture may offer a front maybe - so the apex comes to us. just a hunch that the trunk may look slightly better from an angle in that quarter..........maybe !

cheers Marcus

Marcus,, Thank you for looking again.. I will go out and turn the pot around check how it may look the way you describe a repot,.. take care john

The first picture is the Privet turned to the right per Marcus.
The second picture is of the Privet branches trimmed per Mr. Jim.

Thanks to you for checking this one out for me !! take care john

Hi John,

here is a quick potential idea - the lower trunk was carved a bit to smooth the scar, the longer branches shortened and foliage density increased from the hopefull increased budding.



cheers Marcus

there is an extreme slanted tree in the material too - very windswept. if you like that sort of style

Marcus,, Thank you for takeing your time with the virturl with this tree... I think that looks really good !! it would not take that much to do this.. thanks take care john