bonsaikc

That lowest ramrod-straight branch at the back has to go! Cut it nearly flush with the trunk, don't make it concave. Then with the sharpest razor or grafting knife you can find, clean up the cut leaving it very slightly rounded (very slightly) and use a good cut paste on it.

You should be very excited about this nebari, as azaleas at local stores usually have a multitude of trunks leaping out of the soil by themselves. Just remember the non-apical nature of the azalea and don't let the low branches sap the strength from the top of the tree.

Chris

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