Need advice for broom style

[Cajunrider]

I would like to develop this Cataegus aestivalis to a broom style.


At the chop now I have 5 branches at twi spots. One spot has 2 and the other have 3.



I also have 3 more branches below the chop at 1/2”, 3/4”. and 1”.

I drilled a hole at the chop and carved it out.



Suggestions on progression plan are appreciated.

 

[PonderingSage:]

I would just let it run. I’d suggest thinning the area where a few branches originate from the same location.

 

[Hartinez]

Trying To Make A Broom

I have way too many projects, but after reading @markyscott 's post on his broom, I kinda got hooked. I hope Mrs Mullet doesn't put me in time out for starting another project. . I have had this elm that was in a batch of seedlings (I mean really just a seedling, only about two inches tall)...

www.bonsainut.com

Chuhin Broom Elm

With spring growth in full swing in Houston, I'm in the busiest time of the year. Trees in development are fertilized heavily - solid fertilizer on top and liquid fertilizer every weekend. Trees are pushing huge growth - it seems like they change every time I look away for a minute. That...

www.bonsainut.com

2 of the better threads on here that detail the best process.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Get rid of the ones lower than the chop, let the rest run. Show us what you have next spring.

 

[Cajunrider]

Get rid of the ones lower than the chop, let the rest run. Show us what you have next spring.

Ok. My two brooms have been pruned and will be ignored until spring.

 

[Firstflush]

Like above, remove extras starting at one location. Maybe at the twofer you can wire one out to the side. Watch for swelling at the top cut.

 

[Adair M]

Here are a couple of photos of Mr Ebihara’s “Million Dollar Zelkova” under development:





The photos go from right to left.

 

[SouthernMaple]

Here are a couple of photos of Mr Ebihara’s “Million Dollar Zelkova” under development:

View attachment 442977

View attachment 442978

The photos go from right to left.

is that your zelcova?

 

[Adair M]

is that your zelcova?

No, that is Mr. Ebihara’s zelkova. He developed it by cutting back a trunk, drilling out the core, letting new shoots pop out, taking V cuts between the shoots, grafting on branches as needed. As you can see in the pictures, he started this project around 1976. I don’t know exactly when he decided to show it, but when he did, everyone was astonished. The story goes that he was a virtual unknown before this, practicing his skills in his back yard. Some people went to his place, and offered him “a Million Dollars” for his zelkova. ( this was sometime in the mid 1990’s I believe.). He turned them down. They were insulted he refused their offer. But, he wanted to continue to improve the tree!

My tree is older. Most likely started from seed in the 1910’s to 1920’s. And it’s not as big around. My tree was shown at Kokofu in 1954. Mr. Ebihara started his project around 1974. I don’t know how old the trunk was when he started the project.

 

[Adair M]

My point in showing Mr Ebihara’s tree is how to create structure: you let the branches grow out, develop a bit of girth, then cut back HARD. Repeat. And repeat it again, and again. This process develops taper in those structural branches. You do NOT go for ramification immediately. You must first build structure. Once you have structure, THEN begin ramification.

WP’s method may build ramification, but it does not build good structure. Quite frankly, ramification is easy… it’s the STRUCTURE that’s hard to build. Well, it’s not actually hard… it just takes time. And here’s the thing… WP buys good brooms from Japan that already have good structure, then uses hedging to get ramification. What we mere mortals need to learn to do is learn to build STRUCTURE! And the two photos I posted up above show you how it’s done.