japanese maple design help

[painter]

in light of smokes new thread how do you think this maple should be remade. i bought this with bonsai today's issue no. 39 in mind. a total redesign of the top, i kept the one branch as a possible chop place.
thanks for looking
painter

 

[drew33998]

I would Lauer two thirds off the top, or leave two thirds. Either way I would chop lower.

 

[Neli]

I wouls air layer the part above the first big branch and make 2 trees.

 

[Poink88]

in light of smokes new thread how do you think this maple should be remade. i bought this with bonsai today's issue no. 39 in mind. a total redesign of the top, i kept the one branch as a possible chop place.

Since it sounds like you do not have a definite direction yet, IMHO, you should have asked before removing all the branches. You may have wasted some potentially nicely located branches there.

 

[fraser67]

I agree with Neli...layer above the first branch. You need to create some taper. Looks like a nice base with some movement. You'll also have a nice start on a second tree.
Good luck!

 

[gergwebber]

I like the trunk. In light of Smokes thread, if you want it to look like a valley oak like say this I think you can use that trunk.

Another option would be to let it grow out this year unconfined and with little pruning. Then you could save some young shoots at the top to use as thread grafts placed exactly where you need them.

I like the idea of the large broad form... And I just think that if you layer the top, the base will be too awkward.

 

[painter]

to poink
many branches were growing in wrong direction even straight down, and were wrong sizes and needed a total overhaul the two i kept were the best for its future possibilities
i am thinking rounded "maple " crown with a possible lower branch or two
painter