what should I take off?

[Nwaite]

I got this guy half way through the summer. Tried it up a bit and took off a few branches.

Now I know one thing newbies do is never cut off as much as they can / should. So I'm just wondering if you guys have any thoughts on what I can cut off. And maby some tips on what to wire.

 

[johng]

I think in this case you took off too much!

 

[GrimLore]

I got this guy half way through the summer. Tried it up a bit and took off a few branches.

ummmm... clean slate? Picture please

Grimmy

 

[sorce]

I'll go with pants.

Sorce

 

[Nwaite]

Sorry guys ....my phone keep messing up

 

[Nwaite]

Well here's 1 at least

 

[erb.75]

I'll go with pants.

Sorce

crap....sorce beat me to it....but can I 1-up this?

you should take off your pants and jacket?

 

[Nwaite]

And another. .. only letting me load 1 at a time... sorry

 

[sorce]

Let it grow.

If you are without pants!

Sorce

 

[Nwaite]

Let it grow.

If you are without pants!

Sorce

Aaaahahahaha I don't won't to let it grow! I want to do all the work NOOOOW!!

I'm just kidding. ... kinda.... I was going to pop it in a colinder in the spring and let it grow.. I just didn't know if there was any thing i should take off. I don't want it to look like an upside-down broom...

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

You could reduce it to a trunk and couple branches, then apply this technique:
http://bonsainut.com/index.php?threads/one-more-time-yamadori-style-junipers.4789/
What you have now kind of looks like a broom, and if you put it in the ground, in 4-5 years it will look like a slightly larger broom. Add some movement and interest, keep the foliage that grows close to the trunk. A newbie tendency is to remove all the interior growth to "open it up", which has a temporary bonsai-like appearance, but bonsai is actually made by keeping the growth close to the trunk and ultimately removing what grows too far out from the profile.

 

[Nwaite]

Thank you. I will remember that.

 

[Paradox]

Keep in mind, it is November. You're in Maine. Its cold up there now and going to get colder. These are junipers that need their foliage to survive winter. Now might not be the best time to do much pruning.....

 

[Nwaite]

Oh I know... I won't touch it till early spring. .. just was looking at it and was wonding what you all would think about it...