My first, need advice

Wafer

Howdy

I have never created a bonsai before, and this week I tried my hand for the first time. I was at a home improvement store, and they had some cheap junipers and pines, so I grabbed one of each.

The juniper, J. chinensis "hetzii columnar" was first, and I turned it into a semicascade. I rather like how it has started off, and I'll be even happier when it gets some newer growth on it to help fill it out.

Before and After. (The pot it's in is not permanent, it's all I had.)

As I said, overall I'm pleased, but I realize that with practice and experience, this could have been better. Any feedback would be great.

Now I need some advice.

The other tree is a Black HIlls Spruce, Picea glauca "densata". I was thinking of using this one as either a formal upright or informal upright. However, as I started to work it a little bit, I realized that when the tree was sent to the store, they had buried the first several small branches. The tree was 18 inches (45 cm) above the rim of the pot, but the roots didn't start until 6 inches (15 cm) below, meaning the tree is about 2 feet 60 cm) tall starting from the root structure.

Pictures of what I'm talking about: 1, 2, 3.

The problem now is that due to the distance between the roots and the first branch will be very large, impractical for any type of upright, formal or otherwise. I figure I have a few options:

• Literati. There are several heavy branches that I could use in lieu of the top of the tree to redirect growth.
• Slanting or semicascade. Use the lower tree length to go out some distance and then develop that way
• Shorten the tree. I could try to get some root growth nearer to the branches I want to use. Then I can cut off the lower root structure and start over.

Those are my ideas. If you have any others or suggestions that might work better for this tree I'm all ears.

Thanks in advance.
Mike

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