Boxwood Design Guide. 1 trunk or 2

[fucious70]

@sorce are you recommending to let it grow out before making additional design decisions?

 

[sorce]

Yes!



...and those design possibilities often end up monumental in progressional movement.

I often consider ONLY “theoretical/hypothetical branches” hahaha! (Depending on the specimen, of course)

Amen. I think the biggest cause of shitty trees is lack of Future Vision.

A master cares nothing of the future but knows it intimately.

Sorce

 

[sorce]

@sorce are you recommending to let it grow out before making additional design decisions?

Sort of.
I feel like cut one may have given you the backbudding you needed.
But cut 2 may have taken away the energy necessary for those buds to actually pop.

So going back harder now, may be the right option.

In the beginning, I was hung up on proportions of segments. This is a too oft overlooked important piece of bonsai.

Nebari first, trunk next, then inherently, trunk segment proportions.

This one is odd In that department. And no one above considered it at all. When it is fundamentally the next concern.

We needed them other angles sure.
The blue white blue on the right is properly proportioned. The left is actual.


The different angles show you can give the illusion of this being appropriate, which opens up a lot of possibility.

I'd probly make these red cuts now, all of em, and remove them buds low too.
And look to make the green branches from what exists and can possibly exist in the future.

These develop faster without sacrifice chunks above.
Of course starting with good material is paramount, I think you still have that.

Basically, it's a fools errand to grow a boxwood out. The wise keep looking for a better starting piece.

Sorce

 

[sorce]

blue white blue on the right is properly proportioned

Eh... almost!

Sorce

 

[fucious70]

@sorce First, thank you for the great advice. Especially the progression of evaluating design decisions. The only one I question is the very top "red" cut. Should I hold off on cutting it so it can back buds to create the green lines?

2nd question, after all these cuts, would be too aggressive to re-pot now? Or should I wait to let it recover and re-pot in June?

 

[BrianBay9]

If it were me I would not make that top, red cut until you get back budding farther down that trunk. Boxwoods usually back bud reliably, but I've had occasions where I've cut below the green foliage and the tree decides to give up on that bit and go a different direction.

 

[sorce]

Should I hold off on cutting it so it can back buds to create the green lines?

That's a fabulous Idea!

I do have problems with boxwoods that aren't hacked at the bottom too.
Legit, things I jack and leave in nursery containers die.
So I would mindlessly Repot it after the Solstice at the first full moon.

Sorce