Apple tree needs styling idea

[bonsai-max]

And finally the spring time....

 

[bonsai-max]

Some better pictures hope you like it...
Suggestions are welcome

 

[KateM]

Some better pictures hope you like it...
Suggestions are welcome


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We do

 

[just.wing.it]

Very cool. Great little tree.
Nice work.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Great Job bringing the tree forward!

What do you think about using modified clip and grow to eventually, work a tapered erratic branch up and across the upper deadwood and upwards with a small pad or so along the way. This will highlight, but slightly cover part of the deadwood.

Can see there is at least a couple prospects to carry this out. In addition, there are plenty of backside branches to complement this move, providing depth.

M. clip and grow intro. https://www.bonsaiempire.com/blog/grow-clip

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[bonsai-max]

What do you think about using modified clip and grow to eventually, work a tapered erratic branch up and across the upper deadwood and upwards with a small pad or so along the way. This will highlight, but slightly cover part of the deadwood.

I can't imagine, could you draw also a very basic virtual?

M. clip and grow intro. https://www.bonsaiempire.com/blog/grow-clip

I will have a look

 

[bonsai-max]

Great Job bringing the tree forward!

What do you think about using modified clip and grow to eventually, work a tapered erratic branch up and across the upper deadwood and upwards with a small pad or so along the way. This will highlight, but slightly cover part of the deadwood.

Can see there is at least a couple prospects to carry this out. In addition, there are plenty of backside branches to complement this move, providing depth.

M. clip and grow intro. https://www.bonsaiempire.com/blog/grow-clip

Cheers
DSD sends

Very interesting, there also a lot of youtube videos that explain this technique.
How do you manage the shoots that grow on the top and on the bottom of the branch ? They go directly up and down should I remove them as soon they exit ?

 

[Michael P]

M. clip and grow intro. https://www.bonsaiempire.com/blog/grow-clip

Cheers
DSD sends

I didn't know I am a lingnan penjing practitioner!!

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Ok. So sorry it took so long to get back to you on styling question. I rarely do mock ups as they aren’t as good as real examples.

Here’s the Gravenstein apple at PBM shot from the front.



Looks full…. From the back right side. Not how branches have been slowly worked around to the back side to create a complete image of a fruiting tree bonsai. After years of growth it became more natural and fuller all over.



So same principle. Play around with wired branches and work them to the other side. It may take 2-4 times of modified cloud and grow to work some of the branching around to the bare side and make it look natural,

Here’s an image on the left side back. Same thing. In your case you can start with lower branches, thereby creating a peek a boo look at the deadwood



Cheers
DSD sends

 

[bonsai-max]

Ok. So sorry it took so long to get back to you on styling question. I rarely do mock ups as they aren’t as good as real examples.

Yes, a pictures is much much better and this set really clear about the work, I will try to do the same

 

[bonsai-max]

Today I worked on the apple tree, still a lot of work to do but I try to follow my first idea.
But good thing is that at the moment two front are nice, one with few deadwood and one with a lot of deadwood



Now sun and rest...

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

While not sure one would be able to compress an apple that much, dude to leaf size yet the general styling idea seems really good

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[bonsai-max]

While not sure one would be able to compress an apple that much, dude to leaf size yet the general styling idea seems really good

The leafs of this tree was really really big, and I hope to achieve also more ramification. We will see...

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Ought to scale down a tad. Once those back branches grow and the design goes more vertical things ought to fall into place.

Creating a bonsai is like putting together a 3D jigsaw puzzle, except you are crafting the image.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[bonsai-max]

Time to trim also this apple, it was grown during the spring and summer. Any suggestions where to cut?
Sorry for the images 2 and 4 but on my computer are straight, I don't know what is happens.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Hi Max,

Worked on the options for this tree, short of cutting back and starting again, which is an option.

This tree is very complex with a combination of soft curves from wiring and sharp changes of angle from clip and grow work. On top of this some branches went way too long when these likely needed to be clipped to create short sections with of angle changes. (This process forces a lot of backbudding too.)

The provided images do not reveal all the information necessary to prune in one go. (Not sure this was even possible) .

The positive side, is horticulturally you’ve done a marvelous job building strength! This can be used to create a better iteration and hopefully force a lot of backbudding. The trick will be to choose wisely and do frequent erratic cuts going to fruitful directions. (Little joke )…. Bending only the new thin sections with wire to assure the section has proper directional flow.

The proposal below is for the first phase of saw cuts. Hopefully, once these are done, improvements will be noticeable and it will then be possible to see clearly for next steps…. Although there may be the need for third cut. We shall see.




As an aside , not sure the apex or the remaining branch (after the cuts) over the deadwood are viable. We’ll see more once these cuts are made and sealed.

Feel free to do whatever if this plan is not to your satisfaction.

If these are ok, then please take images again. But this time spin the tree horizontally around the clock, take images about every 90 degrees

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[bonsai-max]

Thank soo so much, I will cut some of the longer one as you suggested and will post some better pictures. Agin TY for your support.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

You are most welcome,

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[bonsai-max]

I did some picture from the 4 side, with the angle I choose, hope these are more clear, I did also a cleaning but I kept the lower branch, I stil not 100% convinced to cut it, but probably is based on my weak experience.
Also the deadwood is slowly improving in appearance.
I have no idea why all my picture are loaded on the wrong side....