Oak bonsai questions…

[Vinnie Charity]

I acquired this oak tree earlier this growing season. This is my first oak tree and I have a few questions…



First off, does anyone know what kind of oak this is? I’m going with English oak or Gambel oak, but I’m not 100%. It’s likely a different oak altogether.

Second, I’ve wired the tree and pruned it back, I’m just wondering how oaks backbud? Do they backbud from old wood because I need to compact this tree quite a bit…

 

[PaulH]

Looks like English oak. Feed well and then defoliate in late spring after leaves harden off and it should bud back well.

 

[Shibui]

The leaves do look like English oak but so many species look similar. Without acorns you will struggle to accurately ID oak.
English oak do back bud on older wood but reluctantly so I've needed to chop hard to get good buds back on older parts. Your branches don't look old so I guess you'll get better results from pruning.