Chinese juniper after 1 year.

[bennybonsai]

I got this tree just over 1 year ago and just looked after it for the the 1st few months, then did a thinning before picking all primaries.

I will now upload a photo of the tree today.

 

[bennybonsai]

I think I will remove the top right shoot/branch. I kept both while deciding.

 

[Shibui]

Your juniper appears to be Juniper procumbens - Shore juniper. Chinese juniper usually has mature scale foliage by this stage of growth.
How long since that last styling? We generally don't overdo junipers so after a big cutback they need time to grow and recover before making another assault.
For future consideration:
I agree with removing one of the top branches but that still won't reduce height so you still have a tall, skinny bonsai with little trunk taper. No problem if you want to keep a tall, skinny bonsai but I'd prefer a bit shorter. Shorter makes the trunk look correspondingly thicker - optical illusion but our mind believes what it sees. I always look for branches that are well situated and can make a good new leader. The branch below the top fork looks like a good candidate to reduce height a little. It will still be relatively tall but not quite as before. The lower branches don't immediately offer suitable cut back points at this stage according to the photos. Maybe after some grow time there might be other options.
I would not go ahead with any of those things until the tree has had time to grow and recover. More foliage means better growth and health which means better recovery from any future pruning. For this season: good care, regular fertiliser and only trimming any shoots that grow too long.

 

[bennybonsai]

Your juniper appears to be Juniper procumbens - Shore juniper. Chinese juniper usually has mature scale foliage by this stage of growth.
How long since that last styling? We generally don't overdo junipers so after a big cutback they need time to grow and recover before making another assault.
For future consideration:
I agree with removing one of the top branches but that still won't reduce height so you still have a tall, skinny bonsai with little trunk taper. No problem if you want to keep a tall, skinny bonsai but I'd prefer a bit shorter. Shorter makes the trunk look correspondingly thicker - optical illusion but our mind believes what it sees. I always look for branches that are well situated and can make a good new leader. The branch below the top fork looks like a good candidate to reduce height a little. It will still be relatively tall but not quite as before. The lower branches don't immediately offer suitable cut back points at this stage according to the photos. Maybe after some grow time there might be other options.
I would not go ahead with any of those things until the tree has had time to grow and recover. More foliage means better growth and health which means better recovery from any future pruning. For this season: good care, regular fertiliser and only trimming any shoots that grow too long.

Thanks @Shibui I really appreciate the detailed explanation that all makes a lot of sense.
The last major styling was done around last growing season spring/summer time so it’s had a while to recover and put on growth since then, and it seems to have responded well overall. I haven’t done anything heavy to it since.
Your point about height and taper makes a lot of sense as well. I can see what you mean about using that branch below the top fork as a potential future leader to reduce the height slightly which I will do I’m in no rush though so should I wait until next season? I’d rather keep it strong and healthy first like you suggest and then make better decisions once there’s more growth to work with.
The plan at the moment is to repot it in about three weeks into a slightly larger, wider grow pot to give it more room to develop, then focus on good feeding and just keeping overly long shoots in check this season.
Thanks again for the guidance very helpful.

Cheers

 

[Shibui]

I can see what you mean about using that branch below the top fork as a potential future leader to reduce the height slightly which I will do I’m in no rush though so should I wait until next season?

From the picture I can see that it appears to b growing a little bit up top but the lower branches are quite sparse and little new growth down there so probably not completely recovered from the previous big reduction. I'd say wait until next season. In the meantime, plenty of TLC, including plenty of fertiliser if possible.
Previous pics show the pot on a wooden bench but current shots show it on the ground. Try to avoid bonsai pots on the ground where possible. Weeds, pest and disease and possible reduced drainage can impact trees in pots on ground so better up on a bench with plenty of sun where possible.

 

[bennybonsai]

From the picture I can see that it appears to b growing a little bit up top but the lower branches are quite sparse and little new growth down there so probably not completely recovered from the previous big reduction. I'd say wait until next season. In the meantime, plenty of TLC, including plenty of fertiliser if possible.
Previous pics show the pot on a wooden bench but current shots show it on the ground. Try to avoid bonsai pots on the ground where possible. Weeds, pest and disease and possible reduced drainage can impact trees in pots on ground so better up on a bench with plenty of sun where possible.

That all makes sense, thanks and yeah I agree with you. The top has definitely been stronger than the lower growth, so it probably hasn’t fully recovered from the last big insult yet. I’m happy to give it another season to build strength rather than rushing anything.
And yeah t’s only on the ground temporarily while I’ve been moving things around, but normally it does live up on a bench in full sun. I’ll make sure it stays there properly going forward.
I’ll focus on good care, plenty of feed, and just letting it grow out this year like you suggest. Thanks again for the advice

 

[Shibui]

Just keep an eye on how strongly those top shoots grow. Most trees are apical dominant, meaning they want to become the tallest tree in the forest so all effort goes into upper parts and lower branches eventually die off.
If you get strong growth up top and less on the lower branches you will need to strategically prune the stronger, upper branches to divert some resources to lower branches. Not a problem yet so let it grow but check every month or so to see what's happening.