Styling a Senegalia (acacia) burkei - advice needed

Bonsaiish

Seed
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Location
Pretoria, South Africa
USDA Zone
10a
Hi all! First time poster here…
I bought a black monkey thorn from a nursery 10 days ago. The tree was in dire need of some TLC so I decided it should come home with me. (When my husband saw it, he said it’s the ugliest thing he’s ever seen). I repotted it in a plastic container with bonsai growing material and it’s been doing good since. It’s now a week since repotting.
I really think this tree has some potential, and I have some ideas on how to style it. But can anyone offer some advice please? I am scared to take too much off the trunk (and how? And where?) and which branches to leave or which to cut off and and…. (I have already removed some of the eye-poking ones in the front)

I have attached pictures from all angles, I hope you can make sense of it?

1st pic - Potential front

I’d appreciate any suggestions!
Thanks
 

Attachments

  • C81A4DA2-6477-40B3-9BCC-3F891E253E5F.jpeg
    C81A4DA2-6477-40B3-9BCC-3F891E253E5F.jpeg
    174.7 KB · Views: 27

Bonsaiish

Seed
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Location
Pretoria, South Africa
USDA Zone
10a
AB865C84-0D12-477B-85D2-02FB3FF587F5.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • 0D8835C2-61B1-408F-A27F-D70CE580D5A2.jpeg
    0D8835C2-61B1-408F-A27F-D70CE580D5A2.jpeg
    208.4 KB · Views: 21
  • 4FE51584-6DFA-4F8B-8984-87A636943DC4.jpeg
    4FE51584-6DFA-4F8B-8984-87A636943DC4.jpeg
    222.7 KB · Views: 15
  • 5D18CC5C-853C-4288-A10E-4FAE1426EE52.jpeg
    5D18CC5C-853C-4288-A10E-4FAE1426EE52.jpeg
    210.2 KB · Views: 13
  • 948D1FAE-6FF4-45AE-BEC9-FCCC145C202E.jpeg
    948D1FAE-6FF4-45AE-BEC9-FCCC145C202E.jpeg
    213 KB · Views: 13
  • CFCDB109-0B03-45DA-A1DE-5D8138866344.jpeg
    CFCDB109-0B03-45DA-A1DE-5D8138866344.jpeg
    199 KB · Views: 14
  • C854CCD9-2EBC-4CAD-AA8A-2F962DC09CFC.jpeg
    C854CCD9-2EBC-4CAD-AA8A-2F962DC09CFC.jpeg
    204.1 KB · Views: 27

Bonsai Nut

Nuttier than your average Nut
Messages
12,420
Reaction score
27,856
Location
Charlotte area, North Carolina
USDA Zone
8a
I think the tree has character and you might be surprised how quickly it could turn into something nice.

Make sure you plant the tree low enough in the soil so that it doesn't look like it is doing gymnastics :) You want to create the impression that there are old roots gripping the soil.

If you go with your chosen front (image 1) in addition to planting the tree lower in the soil, I would increase the lean of the trunk so it is closer to 45 degrees. It will work better with your available roots, plus there is a natural arch to the trunk that will make it look like the tree is growing slightly upwards.

Once you have done that, chose your leader / new apex from one of the branches on the upper side of the trunk. Wire it so that it follows the line of the trunk and projects 45 degree to the upper right. Then, based on the trunk line and apex, wire all the rest of the branches so that they sweep down and away from the trunk. The branches on the left side of the trunk (lower side of the tree) should be longer than the branches on the right side.
 

Forsoothe!

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
6,878
Reaction score
9,248
Location
Michigan
USDA Zone
6b
Post #19 has a primer on Bonsai for beginners. It can help you organize your efforts by following the rules of bonsai which guide you when you don't know what to do. You need to buy some wire. Aluminum 1.5, 2.0, & 2.5mm will be useful for your existing branches and ramification. You don't need much for right now.
 

Carol 83

Flower Girl
Messages
11,120
Reaction score
27,118
Location
IL
Welcome to the site!
 

sorce

Nonsense Rascal
Messages
32,908
Reaction score
45,579
Location
Berwyn, Il
USDA Zone
6.2
I'd only aim to cut off that one thicker swoopingup thingy. But not soon. Maybe soon in SA.

Welcome to Crazy!

Anywhere else with 2 many or three branches emerging from on place should have an eye left on them with a future goal of removing the ones worse for design.

Sorce
 

YukiShiro

Chumono
Messages
558
Reaction score
773
Location
Hennops River Valley,Gauteng,South Africa
USDA Zone
8b
Looks like your tree has only recently budded out? as @sorce stated; remove branches coming from the same place, leaving one of them. You can wire the remaining branches up at 45 degree angle to get that umbrella thorn shape going, if that is what you want to go for. I'd remove those small branches low on the trunk. And yes planting it deeper next spring or maybe the spring after will do a lot for the tree

best regards
Herman
 
Top Bottom