Styling help

vp999

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Hi guys! Went to Meehan earlier today and picked up this juniper. When I was there I saw it as a semi cascade or even cascade with lots of deadwood work. Now that I’m home I’m having second doubt because the trunk is so thick I don’t think I can move the left side up or lower the right side down that much. Any suggestion or help with styling would be grateful, I am a newbie and my vision for the tree is not there yet. Thanks in advance. Tommy 3F04E875-3B06-4C40-9A72-8A5AC3ACC9A0.jpeg88611072-9B01-4192-8F80-BA56EDA90EA3.jpeg88611072-9B01-4192-8F80-BA56EDA90EA3.jpeg
 

Shibui

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You have given us the same picture of the tree 3 times which does not really give a lot of insight into the 3D shape that might give better inspiration. Very hard to tell where branches start and finish from just one view.

You are correct that bending will be difficult with thicker juniper trunks but bending is not always needed. To get cascade just repot the tree on an angle so the cascade trunk leans down. Whichever side you choose for cascade or semi I think you will need to remove the opposite part. probably make a jin for the 'head' of the tree.
Note that cascade is not easy to design well or maintain as lower parts usually end up weak and may die.
 

Tieball

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From what I can see in the photo.....I like that left side of the Juniper much better. I’d be working on the left side and just leaving the right side to grow and thicken the overall base. Then, when the time is right, I’d chop off the right side and create a fabulous deadwood feature full of grain direction.
 

Dav4

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Ideally, we'd have multiple pictures from different sides of the tree to review... including the base which is currently covered up with weeds... but from that one photo, I'd consider jinning that one low right branch and building your try as an informal upright from what's left... and forget about the cascade option.
 

sorce

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same picture of the tree 3 times

I left to see if this 9's OP was the same as the other 9's OP I just responded too , I was hoping that next picture was going to show more...

But.....it didn't....but...

If you scroll and look at each next one with a comic book.....

Dun.. Dun...Dahhhhhh...

It's really impressive!

Lol!

The right side may have some awesome curviness to it.
🤐

Pics!

Sorce
 

Vance Wood

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Sorce is right, pictures from different directions would be very helpful to all of us including you. From the view you have posted the left side of the tree is the best option, the right side is weak and uninteresting----(I think). As the tree is now it will for ever be conflicted, a two directional tree that cannot make up its mind as to what it is going to do. I would eliminate the right side and work on the left side. Arguably a tough decision eliminating 50% of your tree, but; sometimes a good bonsai is a matter of knowing and deciding to remove a lot of material.
 

vp999

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Sorry for the crappy pictures, I took some more pics this morning before heading out for work. Thanks again CE8BCBBD-BC8F-4A4F-9193-F2F39EFC46F1.jpeg2BC77BE0-4452-4AFC-88AE-C8B463AF69E8.jpeg3626B819-2E7D-4144-AD4A-01F187D26036.jpeg6B709328-D15B-48A5-8177-12D2E8495ADA.jpegB9E12509-AE0B-4243-8147-9CDCC82CA57A.jpeg4A073E7D-AA4D-4E29-9500-30C8462CEFB3.jpeg8CF29866-A91F-482A-9FFA-08CBB7846B9A.jpegACC9A4C5-1A6D-406F-9C7B-CEC45C4D4600.jpeg
 
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Cable

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From what I can see in the photo.....I like that left side of the Juniper much better. I’d be working on the left side and just leaving the right side to grow and thicken the overall base. Then, when the time is right, I’d chop off the right side and create a fabulous deadwood feature full of grain direction.

That's what I'd go. I'm really digging that left side.
 

vp999

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Thank you! I’m starting to feel the left side too because of the nice trunk curve, I could let the left side canopy thicken to create a more define conical shape, the right side could be trimmed back and create deadwood, it is thick enough where I think I have room to carve out some curves and movements. Thanks again.
 

Tieball

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Read all about thickening Junipers canopies. I like that left side....thicken as is right now may just result in leggy long branches and you could lose valuable inner needles and character. You have excellent tree material....read a lot and ask questions. Google Juniper bonsai and get an idea where you want to head for your direction....but in the end make it your choice. This can turn out fabulous. And keep it outside.
 

vp999

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Thank you Tieball! I’ve been reading and YouTubing all I can about Juniper bonsai since this is my first one so I’m trying to get as much info as I could. Tommy
 
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