Shimpaku: health, repotting, pruning

[ManSkirtBrew]

Hey gang. This is my first time overwintering any outdoor bonsai. This shimpaku looks like he made it, but there's a lot of yellowing at the tips.

I had planned to get him into a slightly larger pot and do some pruning now that it's spring, but I'm not sure if it would be better to wait and not stress the tree right now if it's unwell. My gut instinct is that he wants to be repotted, but I figured I'd ask first.



I'm also still trying to plan out his shape when I do prune, which probably won't be until next year. I like this angle as the front of the tree:



I would have to take this branch on the left, since it's coming straight at the viewer, but I honestly think the tree would be better for it (before and after clone stamp):



Thoughts?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I have a couple of dozen junipers, and I think I know what 'fresh growth yellow tips' look like, but unfortunately I don't see those here.
The tips I see here look somewhat chlorotic, hinting to either root damage or your soil pH being too alkaline (high pH, iron becomes unavailable. In some rare cases too acidic soil allows iron to be washed out.). I would still do the repot, but not the pruning and see how/if it progresses.
I wishing I'm wrong about those tips. Maybe someone more experienced can chime in.

As for styling tips, I'd say it's best to get it established in that new pot and see where it takes you. The tree might offer a new front to you. Then next winter, when the bark is tight, you could start wiring. In junipers I used to do the trimming first and the wiring later, but I found it to work better design-wise (when working from scratch) to do the wiring first and trimming based on whatever shape I came up with. Yours is less 'from scratch' but I believe the principle could work just as well.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I could agree with removing that first left branch. I’d also suggest wiring the trunk and right branch to add some movement. If you plan to wire and repot, do it in that order. The foliage looks ok, maybe a little winter damage, but it should green up in the next few weeks when it starts growing. Bright green tips is an indication of the safe time to repot.

 

[sorce]

Not seeing the need for a larger pot.
I'd let it rest if you like It.

Repot in summer!

Sorce

 

[ManSkirtBrew]

Thanks for the advice, gang. I'm glad I asked.