d cut the rest. It
Bottom too?
I only ask because It seems the roots need some work too.
Which is why I came back here, because, though most of the time by "design" people mean branches, usually that already exist, but I figured fuck it, you do have to fix this base, since it's part of design.
So if you can chop it off...maybe do!
Or keep that top till it grows you a new set of even radial roots.
Sorce
I can see a trunk line there. Should make a good shohin. At this point in the season though I wouldn’t do any work to it, unless you have a good winter protection for it. I see your in Vegas though, so you may be ok to chop back heavy now. If it were mine I’d chop back to a single trunk line and regrow branches. Unless you feel like there are existing branches you like. Even then, I’d chop those back heavy as well. I would also, personally, not do any root work till next spring.
If I buy nursery stock late in the season I usually handle it this way. I count away a strip of the nursery container to expose the roots just below the surface. I plant the entire pot int the ground back filling with half bonsai substrate and some organic. It allows the roots to escape the cut away growing feeders at the top of the root ball. Come spring I’ll cut away everything below where roots escaped, setting you up for an easy repot. I did this exact thing with 3 pyracantha in July this summer. I removed every branch and everything that is green has regrown since July. View attachment 264645
It’s just cause it’s a poor drawing. . The cutouts on the nursery pots are below soil level. ie. completely buried. The roots grow through the cuts into the ground. No air pruning at all. I only do this with nursery material that I buy a bit later in the season. That way the roots can develop, stay safe during winter, and are setup for when I lop the bottom half of the root ball off come spring.Whoa! Now I am completely confused. In your drawing you show the roots escaping the pot and growing out into the air. This seems totally contrary to “air pruning” of roots. I’m not trying to pick a fight here, I just need more info since your open pot method looks interesting.