Twin Trunk Willow Leaf

[Redwood Ryan]

Hi again,



Picked up this tree as well today at the PBA show, but not from a vendor, from a member on here, Thams (Tom). It's a hefty tree with a rather large trunk, but after looking it over for a little while, I'm not exactly sure what I want to do with it. It's almost like that trunk on the right is too high for a twin trunk, so I'd have to bury the tree to really make it a twin. However, I think that would hide too much of the thick trunk. Anyone have any comments/ideas on it?

 

[A Random User]

If it was mine, I would remove everything comming off the
lower main thick trunk and go with it. I would seal up the wounds
and make new plants off of everything removed.

Willow leafs, are one of the best for making very small shohin.
Also, on material that I know will easily throw out buds such
as this, I would of instead of making a straight cut, made a
angled to start resolving taper issue, and begin the process of
healing the scar asap.

In this case... rather than making cut on back, you would need
to pick a side, so that when viewing form the front, you will have
the wedge shape taper. You might even at the same time, graft
on the edge of the angled chop, branches from the second taller
trunk that you removed, to help progress the cut.

The side I would choose to do the angle chop, would obviously be
the side where you are removing the taller secondary branch.
Seeing that you will end up with scars on this side anyway.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

If it was mine, I would remove everything comming off the
lower main thick trunk and go with it. I would seal up the wounds
and make new plants off of everything removed.

Willow leafs, are one of the best for making very small shohin.
Also, on material that I know will easily throw out buds such
as this, I would of instead of making a straight cut, made a
angled to start resolving taper issue, and begin the process of
healing the scar asap.

In this case... rather than making cut on back, you would need
to pick a side, so that when viewing form the front, you will have
the wedge shape taper. You might even at the same time, graft
on the edge of the angled chop, branches from the second taller
trunk that you removed, to help progress the cut.

The side I would choose to do the angle chop, would obviously be
the side where you are removing the taller secondary branch.
Seeing that you will end up with scars on this side anyway.

Interesting, thank you.


So I assume by lower trunk you mean the trunk on the left, correct? I am certainly considering getting rid of the twin trunk idea, and it is a pretty thick main trunk.

What exactly do you mean when you say "wedge shape taper" though, I think you kind of lose me there.

 

[NewWorldBonsai]

If it was mine, I would remove everything comming off the
lower main thick trunk and go with it. I would seal up the wounds
and make new plants off of everything removed.

Willow leafs, are one of the best for making very small shohin.
Also, on material that I know will easily throw out buds such
as this, I would of instead of making a straight cut, made a
angled to start resolving taper issue, and begin the process of
healing the scar asap.

In this case... rather than making cut on back, you would need
to pick a side, so that when viewing form the front, you will have
the wedge shape taper. You might even at the same time, graft
on the edge of the angled chop, branches from the second taller
trunk that you removed, to help progress the cut.

The side I would choose to do the angle chop, would obviously be
the side where you are removing the taller secondary branch.
Seeing that you will end up with scars on this side anyway.

Great advice, I think that would undoubtedly result in the best and fastest design for this tree. Grafting to help heal the cut is going to be crucial unless the tree is going to be put in the ground and forgotten about for a couple years. That's where planning ahead and understanding the timeline and sequential order of development is so important.

Another way to help a large cut heal quickly is to not remove the really large branch (or trunk) in one go. Rather cut a wedge out of the branch you would like to remove and then let it leaf out like crazy totally uninhibited. Then come back and remove a little more or the whole thing. This way the useless branch is helping to heal its own scar. Heck, while you're at it throw an air layer on that branch at the same time.

Bonsai Tonight or Peter Tea had a little article about this technique but I can't locate it atm...

 

[A Random User]

Something like this...
Obviously, you can design your branch placement
and style differently than that of more of a pine.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

View attachment 35289
Something like this...
Obviously, you can design your branch placement
and style differently than that of more of a pine.

Now THAT would be terrific. Back to your wedge shape cut, would that whole right side just be one big cut? Or maybe I'm thinking something differently....?

 

[A Random User]

Now THAT would be terrific. Back to your wedge shape cut, would that whole right side just be one big cut? Or maybe I'm thinking something differently....?

Sorry, let me step back a minute...

The answer to your question, is yes it would be most of one side.
Having said this... you will need to have bark / live vein that you
haven't cut below the parts you want to remove. in order for the
cuts to heal.

With this said...

I think you will be better off instead doing it in two stages...
I would first remove the second trunk and roots and then let them
heal over. Then when that is done, do the angle cut up from there.
This will ensure that you don't end up with a dead spot, and will
speed up the healing over process...

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Sorry, let me step back a minute...

The answer to your question, is yes it would be most of one side.
Having said this... you will need to have bark / live vein that you
haven't cut below the parts you want to remove. in order for the
cuts to heal.

With this said...

I think you will be better off instead doing it in two stages...
I would first remove the second trunk and roots and then let them
heal over. Then when that is done, do the angle cut up from there.
This will ensure that you don't end up with a dead spot, and will
speed up the healing over process...

I see what you're saying now, thanks! I just might have to remove the right side, since, as mentioned, that second trunk is a bit high on the left trunk.

I'll have to see what Tom thinks about me doing this to his (previous) baby

 

[thams]

I see what you're saying now, thanks! I just might have to remove the right side, since, as mentioned, that second trunk is a bit high on the left trunk.

I'll have to see what Tom thinks about me doing this to his (previous) baby

You go for it!! I was at a bit of a loss as to the next step with this guy. I'll be following along to see how it progresses. I say make use of that thick trunk and make one tree into multiple ones!

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Sounds good Tom, I will proceed with the cutting (not yet though).



I repotted this one and put it into a bulb pan. I was going to put it into a bigger pot than this, but took one look at the small root system and decided otherwise. I'll wait to remove that right hand trunk until there are a lot more roots. I did discover a bit more of a trunk under the soil line, so I would really like to use that left trunk as the main one, due to its sheer size.

 

[nip]

Nice tree! I would probably just reduce the smaller trunk and develop from there. I like the two trunk look, gives it more character. Check out my poor virtual for the generally idea. But if you want a sweet sumo style, cut it down to one trunk. I think it will be great regardless of which direction you go.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Nice tree! I would probably just reduce the smaller trunk and develop from there. I like the two trunk look, gives it more character. Check out my poor virtual for the generally idea. But if you want a sweet sumo style, cut it down to one trunk. I think it will be great regardless of which direction you go.

Thanks! I like your idea, but unfortunately that's the back of the trunk, and that would make the big cut front and center, plus the leader is on the other side.


Looking the tree over today I found a spot of rot on the back. I've dug it out as much as I could, but maybe it's time to get a dremel and cut into the live wood....

 

[tmmason10]

Saw this on suthins site, thought the willow lead would be good inspiration for mos of your ficus projects.

http://www.suthinbonsaistudio.com/#!suthin-studio/c16fk

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Saw this on suthins site, thought the willow lead would be good inspiration for mos of your ficus projects.

http://www.suthinbonsaistudio.com/#!suthin-studio/c16fk

That's an incredible transformation, thanks for sharing Tom!

 

[Jmontee]

Ryan, this is where I would try to go with this tree if it were mine. Obviously a branch would have to bud at the ight spot for the first branch but with a willow leaf I am pretty sure you won't have an issue. ( just look at the ones coming out way too low on the trunk now)

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Ryan, this is where I would try to go with this tree if it were mine. Obviously a branch would have to bud at the ight spot for the first branch but with a willow leaf I am pretty sure you won't have an issue. ( just look at the ones coming out way too low on the trunk now)

View attachment 35500

Oooh thank you I do like that too.

 

[thams]

Ryan, this is where I would try to go with this tree if it were mine. Obviously a branch would have to bud at the ight spot for the first branch but with a willow leaf I am pretty sure you won't have an issue. ( just look at the ones coming out way too low on the trunk now)

View attachment 35500

I'm a fan of that design. Coupled with a stronger nebari that tree would look pretty sweet!

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I'm a fan of that design. Coupled with a stronger nebari that tree would look pretty sweet!

I agree, and it wouldn't require as drastic as a chop as the other design (which I do still really like). This design would be less traumatic to the tree.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I got a new cut paste brand called Top Jin, so I covered that wound in the back of the tree up. It's a fugly bright orange, but Jerry suggested it to me and it's all he uses. It's supposedly "medicated" too...

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Call this a twin trunk no more.