yew

lee_0

I've been looking at tree benders yew in show and tell for a few days now, and i must say VERY nice.
Now, its made me think about a yew i have not a bonsai but hopefuly in the making.
I've had it in this bucket for about 6months now and wanted to start shaping and wiring, ready for next spring.
The trouble is i lack vision (hoipefuly this will come in time) and having only been into bonsai for 8-9 months im struggling with styling, not just this yew but with most of my trees, anyway thats another thread.
As you can see this yew has a very straight trunk, to thick to bend methinks.
Also there is a clump of branches all coming out from one spot, which is making it harder for me to decide what to do.
So i just wanted to say HEEELLLPPPPPP!!!!
Cheers Lee

Attached Images

DSC00277.jpg (68.6 KB, 37 views)

Advertisement

ElGringo

Itchy fingers huh? I killed a yew once by working it during the Summer, and that was 4 years into bonsai... It's best to prune and wire branches in the Autumn. If you're not sure how to style a tree, just take your time (years if need be). Really, don't be hasty, just take a step back, look at it from different directions, tip the pot to different angles if you want. Close your eyes to see more clearly!

If the trunk is very straight, then why not style it as a formal upright?

They tend to grow clusters of branches from places on the trunk as you have observed, and if left alone for several years, will grow to the point where a bulge appears in the trunk where all the branches emerge from. One solution is to, in the future, at each 'cluster point' select which branch you want to keep, and remove the others to prevent a bulge developing.

However, all these branches could work to your advantage. How good is the taper on this tree? Perhaps you could trunk-chop it and choose one of these branches for a new leader?

Be warned that yews are very slow growers and it will take many years to develop, but they are really fantastic trees at the end of the day. Why not post more pictures of the whole tree?

__________________
Richard