Suggestions for Ulmus parvifolia ‘Seiju’

[Cruiser]

I couldn’t resist taking this tree home. In April I had purchased a much smaller one that did very well over the summer. They seem like hardy, forgiving trees.

I was thinking of going for a twin or triple trunk style. Does anyone have suggestions or input for how to proceed?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Broom style or informal upright in an oak growth pattern.

I think this is a nice piece of material. It does not, to me, suggest a double or triple trunk, which would require a taller, more graceful trunk line. That is not a bad thing... many people work for years to get a broom started with branching that is already present on this tree.

One thing you should do immediately - check every branch juncture and make sure there are only two branches at each juncture. I can see several branch junctures with three branches - which leads to unsightly knobs of growth. Just keep thinking two branch split... leading up to the next two branch split... etc. Eliminate the branches pointing up or down, or crossing, or pointing inward towards the center of the tree.

 

[Shibui]

Agree with @Bonsai Nut The main branches are a bit high and too crowded to make good twin or triple. Using any of those would require growing quite a large tree which would waste the potential of the current good small trunk.
There is that smaller trunk at ground level if you really want twin trunk.

Any styling of this tree will require removing a lot of main branches to make space for ramification.

I can see a possible informal upright in pic 2 or twin trunk or informal upright in pic 3.
Also a nice small broom style should be possible from several angles.
All these would be quite small bonsai. If you want something a bit larger that is likely to take a few years to further develop the trunk and branching.

 

[Cruiser]

Thanks for the detailed response.
So in this picture should I remove the circled leader or a cut one of the 3 branches from it?

 

[Cruiser]

Agree with @Bonsai Nut The main branches are a bit high and too crowded to make good twin or triple. Using any of those would require growing quite a large tree which would waste the potential of the current good small trunk.
There is that smaller trunk at ground level if you really want twin trunk.

Any styling of this tree will require removing a lot of main branches to make space for ramification.

I can see a possible informal upright in pic 2 or twin trunk or informal upright in pic 3.
Also a nice small broom style should be possible from several angles.
All these would be quite small bonsai. If you want something a bit larger that is likely to take a few years to further develop the trunk and branching.

Thanks. Is this the trunk line you’re seeing for the informal upright?

 

[Shibui]

Thanks. Is this the trunk line you’re seeing for the informal upright?

Yes!

 

[Cruiser]

Yes!
Yeah that one looks pretty good. I like how it shows the transition between older and newer bark.

 

[Cruiser]

Agree with @Bonsai Nut The main branches are a bit high and too crowded to make good twin or triple. Using any of those would require growing quite a large tree which would waste the potential of the current good small trunk.
There is that smaller trunk at ground level if you really want twin trunk.

Any styling of this tree will require removing a lot of main branches to make space for ramification.

I can see a possible informal upright in pic 2 or twin trunk or informal upright in pic 3.
Also a nice small broom style should be possible from several angles.
All these would be quite small bonsai. If you want something a bit larger that is likely to take a few years to further develop the trunk and branching.

I think this is a nice piece of material. It does not, to me, suggest a double or triple trunk, which would require a taller, more graceful trunk line. That is not a bad thing... many people work for years to get a broom started with branching that is already present on this tree.

One thing you should do immediately - check every branch juncture and make sure there are only two branches at each juncture. I can see several branch junctures with three branches - which leads to unsightly knobs of growth. Just keep thinking two branch split... leading up to the next two branch split... etc. Eliminate the branches pointing up or down, or crossing, or pointing inward towards the center of the tree.

I went ahead and cut out the large bulbous leader from the center of the trunk. So now there’s two smaller leaders branching out from one side and a third on the other side.

I read that elm wounds tend to bulge out when they heal. Does this chop look concave enough? Is there any other feedback you could provide?

 

[Shibui]

The cut is fine. I don't think that the cut itself will cause any problem but the 3 strong branches close by are likely to contribute to localized thickening. it is a bit hard to decide what else to cut because they are all so close that removing any will really enlarge the existing cut. I would probably chop a couple of them quite short just to reduce their influence now/soon with the aim to remove after the first cut has started to heal. Not sure whether now will be a good time for lots of hard pruning in your area.