From an S curve to a…?

Trigobontree

Sapling
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Hello All,
I have this Chinese Elm with an S curve that I’m not a huge fan of (and the roots are a mess). How and when should I “fix” it? I’m thinking above the red line is just firewood, too much of a reverse taper. Is the blue line a good place to trunk chop? And if so is it worth trying to air layer between the red and blue? First picture is an older one of when I first got it a few months ago-can better see the trunk. Second pic is current.

Does anyone else have examples of trees that you’ve restyled from an S into something else?
 

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Bonsai Nut

Nuttier than your average Nut
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Caitlin elm - as purchased.
elm1.jpg
Reduction.
elm2.jpg
After.
elm3.jpg
Sorry about all the mud and the weeds in the photo :) Not sure what was going on in my garden when I took those pics :) Maybe those were my Turface days :)
 
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Trigobontree

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Firstflush

Chumono
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Took the top curve off this little tiger bark.
 

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Trigobontree

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But then is it bad that I like the curve on my snow rose? I call her “Big Bertha”. And she reminds me of an older (but not grandma per se) robust woman that everyone in the neighborhood calls “mom” who bakes pies and gives the best hugs.
 

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Adair M

Pinus Envy
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One thing that would help a lot is to change the planting angle. It comes straight up out of the soil, then moves in those big curves, going horizontal for a while before going back into another big curve.

It would be better to have it coming out of the soil at an angle, and have no horizontal lines.

Your other problem is lack of taper. Pretty much the only way to fix that is to do a drastic cut somewhere, and grow a new leader.

I think a combination of both these actions will go a long way to improve the tree. Mind you, it will take several years to start to see results.
 

River's Edge

Masterpiece
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Hello All,
I have this Chinese Elm with an S curve that I’m not a huge fan of (and the roots are a mess). How and when should I “fix” it? I’m thinking above the red line is just firewood, too much of a reverse taper. Is the blue line a good place to trunk chop? And if so is it worth trying to air layer between the red and blue? First picture is an older one of when I first got it a few months ago-can better see the trunk. Second pic is current.

Does anyone else have examples of trees that you’ve restyled from an S into something else?
I would consider the blue line a good starting point with this material.
 

jason biggs

Chumono
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cut these 2 x microcarpa s shape trees years ago and cannot close the massive scars at all...
trying to threadgraft through the scars??
I think i cut them too low as they were already big trees 10 years ago...20210724_073430.jpg20210724_073613.jpg
 

hinmo24t

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cut these 2 x microcarpa s shape trees years ago and cannot close the massive scars at all...
trying to threadgraft through the scars??
I think i cut them too low as they were already big trees 10 years ago...View attachment 387950View attachment 387951
Interesting. Could be w a 2" trunk and no definitive leader for awhile maybe. A link above to a blog with them is inspiring for the smaller ones. You have adeniums going still?
 
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