Help with Ash trunk chop.

What did you do with this tree Forrest?

Ive left it alone and let it grow a new leader. About a foot tall.

I have one (ash) that is basically a PITA, but I like it. It will never be a good bonsai, but they are interesting to see how they grow. They will easily root a branch if you bend it over and cover it with soil (the branch that is). They will fuse onto themselves easily if you make this attempt. They are the last trees to leaf out in the spring and the first to loose their leaves in the fall. They have nice rough bark when they get old. The branches are brittle once they harden off. And they can have wicked wicked branching (ramification) that looks great for winter viewing if you work to develop them.

IMHO, you have a good base to start out with as long as you understand that trees with this multi-leaf design make poor bonsai. Manitoba maple is the same, plus the MM will drop a branch without notice, for no apparent reason, at any time; I'd recommend never to use a Manitoba Maple.

If I were you, I'd keep this ash though.

What I have found is that most trees will push the growth at the base of the tree before it will push at the top of your chop where you want it. I always rub these off until I get buds at the chop, then I leave everything to go as it may. You will find that the American Elm you are after will do the same.

The elm you envision could eventually win a major competition, the ash will only win your heart... particularly as a winter scene.

I wish I had started when I was 26 y/o... you will have some very nice trees to work with in your old age if you keep at it.

Thanks for all the info...i will definitely keep it!

Just remember that many people have long forgotten what its like to be starting out... in many areas of their lives, not only bonsai. Many of them could easily buy show-ready bonsai and never have to struggle to try and keep something alive until it finally stabilizes and begins to survive without worry. The fact that you didn't want to just let it die (when honestly the prudent thing to do was to do just that) tells me that you are responsible for the action(s) you have taken so far. The best thing that you could have done was to know what you were getting in the first place, but that is exactly how I ended up with my ash... it was going to be destroyed within the week anyway, so I took a chance that it was something worthwhile when I collected it... but, it is not, it is an ash... but that doesn't mean that I just toss it out. It will have a purpose, and maybe I will learn something from it that will save a more valuable tree at some point down the line.

The most important thing that I've learned from a long time reading these forums is that what works in one part of the continent does not necessarily work where you are. I would always lean to the advice that is coming nearest to my geographical location, provided that you have faith in that person's advice. You are probably quite close geographically to Winnipeg, Manitoba. They have a bonsai club there, it might be worthwhile making a connection with someone in that group seeing that you would more closely share that temperate zone than a State or two below you.

I have read these forums for many years and been part of many that weren't about bonsai, and they all have the same re-occurent themes... just like a small town, they all have their gossipers, their liars, their cliques, their inner clubs, their haters, their Saints, their bullies and their drunks. Find a handful that you trust and ignore the rest... for me, I had to sign on here to find a special something... once I've found it, I'll be on my way again. Good luck with the bonsai.

Could I see this tree again please? An update pic. I'm curious.

Was going to say, in efforts of waiting for a leader bud, could always let one branch keep growing then whilst waiting, a branch could turn in to a nice candidate for an approach or thread graft.
Then after a while, you will have 2 options of what to do with it.