Boxwood styling help

rramchar

Hi all,

I picked this boxwood up at home depot about two years ago. The triple trunk caught my eye and the nebari was quite nice so it came home with me. Once home I couldn't decide how to style the tree. All three trunks are about the same size, the nebari is decent and the top is bushy.

My first idea for styling was a flat top bonsai like so - http://glyn4life.tripod.com/bonsai-en/pbs4.jpg

As far as I can tell this tree doesn't fall into one of the statndard bonsai styles, is a triple trunk considered "bad" in bonsai design?

Does anyone have any suggestions for styling this tree?

Pics 1 & 2 show the nebari.
Pic 3 is the front I picked.
Pic 4, 5 & 6 is the tree rotated clockwise.

Thanks

Rickie

Attached Images

	nebari.jpg (67.3 KB, 34 views)
	nebari2.jpg (59.6 KB, 23 views)
	tree-front.jpg (70.4 KB, 38 views)
	tree-2.jpg (68.9 KB, 34 views)
	tree-3.jpg (70.6 KB, 35 views)
	tree-4.jpg (66.1 KB, 28 views)

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ovation22

The Sambon-Yose is the three trunk style, from what I've read. I like the front you've picked. I would just try to encourage more branching and trim it up some.

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John Callaway
Matsu Bonsai blog

Bonsai Questions - Well, it depends

Robert Kaminski

I also like the front you decided on and it does have great visible root surface. From what I read this is more of a "Tosho Style" (one tree/buttress that has three extending trunks). I recently bought a Japanese Boxwood which looks much the same as yours. However, I plan to trunk-chop mine somewhat in order to have lower branches on the "three primary branches". My boxwood is currently bushy up top but the trunks that extend out from the base are too long and top heavy to get the style/look that I want. The only comment I would have is maybe doing the same. It looks to be a little "leggy" and stiff between the main three trunks and the secondary branches and leafs. I guess the fall back is: boxwoods are slow growers but they do bud back on old wood fairly easily. I don't know if you know this but they also appreciate some limestone in their diet once in awhile (mine does)? Great choice, hope you have fun with this one and keep us posted. Rob

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ovation22

Robert is correct. "Sambon-Yose" would be a three tree group planting.

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John Callaway
Matsu Bonsai blog

Bonsai Questions - Well, it depends

rramchar

Hi Rob,

How would I get my boxwood to bud on the trunks? Would just chopping the trunks force new buds or would that just kill the trunk/tree?

I wouldn't mind getting some movement into the trunks but I think that they're too thick to try withouth breaking them.

I've been looking for info on the growth habbits of boxwoods but haven't found much. I'd like to refine the crown and hopefully improve the ramification. Does bud pinching work on boxwoods or is there another way of getting it to ramify.

I'll have to try a bit of limestone and see if the tree likes it.

Below is a closeup of the crown.

Thanks

Rickie

Attached Images

tree-branches.jpg (63.9 KB, 16 views)