Boxwood training suggestions?

[Tycoss]

This is the boxwood from the original post as it is now most of the original “trunks” have been removed or reduced. I’m still waiting for the backbudding I need to compact it further

 

[Saddler]

If you don’t have the back budding you want by mid spring next year, a root prune and cutting back each branch to the lowest four leaves has gotten me more backbudding then I ever wanted. And you can use it to really get the roots horizontal on one plane. They look like they are already shaped for a nice nebari if you can get the roots growing only where you need them.
Here is my buxus oak thread:
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/a-blue-bill-buxus-built-to-be-a-broom.25523/

 

[Tycoss]

If you don’t have the back budding you want by mid spring next year, a root prune and cutting back each branch to the lowest four leaves has gotten me more backbudding then I ever wanted. And you can use it to really get the roots horizontal on one plane. They look like they are already shaped for a nice nebari if you can get the roots growing only where you need them.
Here is my buxus oak thread:
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/a-blue-bill-buxus-built-to-be-a-broom.25523/

Thanks for the reply. That’s in the plans for next May! There was no real repotting this year. I’ve heard that cutting back too far without also removing root mass is not wise. I like what you’ve done with this tree.

 

[Tycoss]

The other boxwood in the thread, the 8” carved up one, looks like this at the moment:

 

[John in Toledo]

Here is my buxus oak thread:
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/a-blue-bill-buxus-built-to-be-a-broom.25523/

Thanks for sharing the thread. Super helpful, and work well done. Nice tree.

 

[Saddler]

Thanks for sharing the thread. Super helpful, and work well done. Nice tree.

Thanks.

 

[Tycoss]

It’s been awhile since I posted anything on this tree. The boxwood was just trimmed back and had some wire removed. Here is how it looks now.
Before I started, the back and sides were entirely solid. I’m going to let it fill in again for the rest of the year. The right side in particular needs to lengthen, and taper and ramification needs to improve. I’m satisfied with the old oak/deciduous image iris taking on. Your thoughts?

 

[Tycoss]

Here are some of the wounds on the trunk. Some should close as the tree grows, some will become small uros.

 

[Mara of dragon clan]

@Vin do you happen to know how too much roots wih less leaves was harmful to the tree? I recently did a heavy prune and was hesitant to root prune to not stress the tree out too much. With the season getting ready to turn over to a hardening phase, im wondering if i should rectify that this year before overwintering

 

[Vin]

@Vin do you happen to know how too much roots wih less leaves was harmful to the tree? I recently did a heavy prune and was hesitant to root prune to not stress the tree out too much. With the season getting ready to turn over to a hardening phase, im wondering if i should rectify that this year before overwintering

It is a balancing act that is difficult to just throw a number out there without knowing your particular tree. Generally speaking, a boxwood that is thriving and actively growing can take a higher percentage of foliage pruning in relation to root pruning. A weaker tree has a much harder time dealing with a lack of balance. If you have already pruned your foliage and the tree is responding well I would not try to rectify anything this year. Next Spring, I would repot and address the roots and then "balance" prune the foliage.