2nd try

[Trimaptim]

I posted this before and never got a response about the tree. I have this elm, I believe it's an allee elm, which is close to the Chinese elm in looks. I trunk chopped it last year, let it grow and just chopped it last week again. I need opinions on which route to go...I'm thinking chop back hard and use that one low thick branch to build a small tree out of over the next few years, so I'd have a massive trunk on a smaller canopy. Or...left the new leader grow, and bend it towards the trunk and then up to create a style kind of like this picture. What do you all think?

 

[sorce]

Seems to have a ways to go.

Any idea what a base looks like?

I'd Probly try to get that in order while almost forgetting about the top. Get it in a basket.

"Almost", cuz you'll probably need to remove some excess BS to keep the right things growing on top, but minimally.

Sorce

 

[0soyoung]

I like the lingnan style of your inspiration.

I think you first must realize that since you chopped the trunk, it isn't going to get much thicker (until a remaining branch is nearly the same thickness), so the lower branch seems the appropriate choice for the next trunk section. Otherwise you'll wind up with a taller, skinny/lanky version of your inspiration. In other words, you most likely will be making a shohin.

Of course, you always have options for making something different. There is nothing wrong with just doing what hits you and going with that until you do something else to it, other than a lot of time can go by not really getting anywhere with it. But more time (and time to find a different image) may inspire you to make something original.

 

[Trimaptim]

Here's what I ended up doing. I plan to let it grow a season or two with minimal pruning now. Once it starts to match the trunk thickness and begins a more even taper in a few years, I'm hoping the inside gap closes up for a cool spiral trunk. Its one of those learning and seeing what works trees.