Cotoneaster Branch

[Treefer]

I would appreciate some suggestions for the bottom right branch on this young upright cotoneaster. I think it is too long, too straight and too bare. I have put some wire on it to improve movement and shorten appearance. Because of the thickness, it cracks after just a little bending. Thoughts:

1. Cut it back by 2/3 now (early November) and hope for back budding in spring.

2. Remove it completely.

3. Jin it.

4. Wait til spring and see what happens.

5. Other.

Thanks.

 

[hinmo24t]

2

 

[hinmo24t]

2

and i wouldnt until spring but itd prob be fine regardless

 

[SeanS]

Could you take a better photo with the light (doorway) behind you? We can barely see the tree

 

[Treefer]

Thanks for your replies. I agreed with removing it completely (except for stub). Once I did that, I was able to bring the branch above down and forward. Much better I think.

 

[penumbra]

I think you should hold off and study some pictures of other bonsai. My first impression is to take it off, but that is assuming I was happy with the rest of the tree, and I am not. I would not make a decision based upon the one picture you have shown, but I have to say that the fork on top bothers me more than that bottom branch. I suppose it really depends on you final vision for the plant which I am sure is quite different than what I see. I find the arrow straight top leader to be the offending feature personally, but as I said, our visions probably vary widely.
I would take the top leader completely off and the second branch from the bottom right as well. Then I would work with the bottom right and the branch on the left and the new curved top leader. I would cut back both branches by 20-30% to encourage back budding (which will come) and finer scaffolding. With the plant pruned thusly, I would incline it about 15 degrees to the left at re-planting time.

 

[penumbra]

I was too late, my typing was slower than your pruners.
Now I have another vision which I am sure is not yours, but I will remain silent on it lest the pruners beat me again.

 

[Treefer]

@prenumbra, thanks. I really hated that branch so my patience evaporated. I promise no more pruning until next fall. This guy is only 5 months out of a nursery can. Lots of growth to put on. I would like to hear more of your new vision. I can take it!

More pics. All sides.

 

[sorce]

. I really hated that branch so my patience evaporated

You can keep your patience liquid by getting a longer range prescription on your Future Vision Goggles.

Trying to make a tree out of what's in front of you limits your prescription to a couple seasons and you hate a branch because it's viewed as a branch.

When your prescription gets some range, that branch can't be hated because it's the most reasonable future trunkline.

Any hatred, even that of a branch on a shrub, is better never existing in your soul, so there's that upfront benefit....
Or does this only work with no hatred in the beginning?
Or does all this require a patience that is solid, with more time before evaporation?

Let winter freeze you patience solid.

I believe hatred is only spawned by the stress of a lack of patience.

Fuck Amazon.

Sorce

 

[Treefer]

There must be hope for my ugly little cotoneaster since I have heard from a couple of the primo contributors on this site. Never worked with an upright variety before, just horizontalis. Time will tell. Thanks for the input, and whatever Sorce said. I think the Dude abides.