First prune of a chinese elm, what next?

[Bepo]

Hello!
This week I bought this chinese elm from a local garden center(sold as a zelkova but after reading this Forum im pretty sure its a chinese elm )

Seeing that it was going all over the place I decided to prune it and this was the result:


Feedback is welcome as this was my first time pruning, did I cut too much/little from some places?
Im also looking for advice what to do next. My plan goes like this starting from the base and going up:
First and second branches are quite straight so Ill wire some movement to them. The the third branch im planning on removing because it awkwardly crosses the trunkline. Then Ill wire the branch above it down to fill the space there. Lastly I think the crown needs a little bit More pruning.
Does this sound like a good plan for you? I appreciate any feedback!

 

[Shibui]

Pretty good result for a first time.
I would probably have cut the shoots on that first branch a bit shorter. The new buds are likely to grow from the last 2 or 3 leaves on each shoot so it you've left 5 leaves the new shoots, which will be the future ramification, will be out toward the ends of those shoots rather than starting close to the main branch. Pruning that far might leave the tree looking a bit bare but is likely to be better in the long run. Maybe also a couple of the upper shoots too?
Before cutting that 3rd branch I'd want to have a look at the other side to make sure there are some back branches - I think there may be one but can't be sure with just one 2D photo. Also a shot from the side to check that the top of the trunk grows slightly toward the front of the tree. If you don't have those 2 features, the other side might be a better front.

Definitely put some bends into the straight branches. Our brains consider this a real tree in a forest or on a mountain or somewhere. Whatever made the trunk grow with bends will also have caused similar bends in the branches. If things do not look the way we subconsciously expect, our subconscious becomes uneasy and we do not like the appearance.

You will probably need to trim the upper branches harder and more often to control growth. Most trees are apical dominant which means the top grows stronger and faster. Already the lowest branch is growing less than the others when, in most big trees, the lowest branch is usually the longest and fattest. When it does grow, let the shoots from it get twice as long as the other branches before cutting. That will change the sap flow patterns to make it stronger and thicker.

You are correct with the ID. Definitely a Chinese elm.
I hope that's a panda wandering around under the tree and not a racoon? After all, its a CHINESE elm.

 

[Bepo]

Pretty good result for a first time.
I would probably have cut the shoots on that first branch a bit shorter. The new buds are likely to grow from the last 2 or 3 leaves on each shoot so it you've left 5 leaves the new shoots, which will be the future ramification, will be out toward the ends of those shoots rather than starting close to the main branch. Pruning that far might leave the tree looking a bit bare but is likely to be better in the long run. Maybe also a couple of the upper shoots too?
Before cutting that 3rd branch I'd want to have a look at the other side to make sure there are some back branches - I think there may be one but can't be sure with just one 2D photo. Also a shot from the side to check that the top of the trunk grows slightly toward the front of the tree. If you don't have those 2 features, the other side might be a better front.

Thank you for the advice! Here is a pic from the other side.



There is a branch on this side aswell but that also crosses the trunkline. So I guess I have to remove one or the other depending what the front will be. The top does lean this way so maybe this side will be the front.

I hope that's a panda wandering around under the tree and not a racoon? After all, its a CHINESE elm.

It is a raccoon, but Ive heard that some people call them "trash pandas" so almost?

 

[Shibui]

The roots (nebari) look slightly more stable from this side too so that could be 2 points for this as the front?
That first branch is now growing from slightly behind the trunk now which would be a point against so back to both sides being equally good.

Does that front branch (on this side) come from inside a bend in the trunk? Good excuse to remove it so another point for this side as front.

When things are so even it can be really hard to decide which way to go - decision paralysis. In such cases, because both options are equally good, it doesn't matter which you choose but it is important to make the choice or the tree is never going to improve. Toss a coin if you have to. Anything to get started.
As soon as you've made the decision and started it automatically becomes the correct decision.

 

[Nickuk74]

Not sure what the weather is like in Finland at the moment, but it should be outside as soon as things warm up.

 

[Bepo]

Not sure what the weather is like in Finland at the moment, but it should be outside as soon as things warm up.

Hopefully no More snow and frost after this weekend. So its going out(balcony) on sunday