Take a look at this tropical lemon tree, ready for the bonsai treatment.
Today, it will undergo some strategic cuts to restyle the tree.
Such decisions made now will rebalance the harmony of the tree so it can become stronger and exhibit more brilliance and luster.
In the above photos, we can see the lemon tree after a full year, with almost no changes made to it.
ID: 0022
Nickname: Li'l Pucker
Type: Lemon
Age: 8 years
Grown: from seed of Meyers Lemon
Some of the key flaws I noted are the "t" or "tridant" branches where the first branches spread out from the trunk. Eventually this junction will swell with strength on both sides, which would cause a reverse taper whorl.
Another area of concern are the multiple parallel branches close together on the low left side of the tree. For now these are mostly thin stems, but in the far future, the upper limbs will crowd out the lower ones in competition for light.
The top branch leader was wired to force a horizontal shape, with hopes it might sprout many side shooting stems to give more options for pruning. This elbow bend is so dramatic, I think it actually looks too unnatural. Most of the sprouting is occuring farther away than I intended, making the trunk look too much like it was forced into being a perch branch.
Some of the branches are clearly more appealing than others. After months of observing, I have decided out of the two lowest branches, I prefer the leftward side. The rightward branch is too long and leggy, and it protrudes from the inside of a very slight trunk curve, where usually a branch on the outside of a curve is preferred.
Now that I have determined to preserve the left branch, I will avoid dealing with flaw #2 noted above, as I will need to preserve as much remaining leaves as possible, to not overly stress the tree.
Two major branches have been eliminated.
The rightward branch, and the main upward trunk.
Fortunately, I had two sprouting branches below the trunk cut, so that should really help with the healing of the scar. I would have cut even lower, but I think that would steal more life from the tree than it can handle. Still, any major trunk reduction, I really want to take care of within the next year or two, so ir doesn't continue to swell larger in an area I feel shouldn't even exist.
An unexpected feature of the new design, it the height of the leaf canopy. Most of the leaves are reaching to the same ceiling level. This makes the tree look full, healthy, and in better proportion to the trunk size. All leaves can receive even amount of sunlight energy.
The funny thing about removing the main leader of a tree, is it confuses the tree for a few months, because it no longer knows where to send the majority of its growth energy. As a result, all branches will receive a burst of excess growth energy to help strengthen the tree from further catostrophic loss of branches. Eventually the tree will identify a new leader branch, and the trunk will continue to thicken the fastest in that direction.
If course, this is a tree we are talking about. Growth is a slow and patient process best witnessed over the years.
On Future Design Plans
Above I traced the tree into my drawing app, and illustrated where I would like to next make branch cuts in the next year or so. Then below, I represented what the tree might turn into as the remaining branches are allowed to extend. I think it could turn into a very full, and feminine shrub design, once the trunk is finalized.
While most beginners fear that pruning hurts the health of a tree, well chosen, and well timed cuts can significantly boost the longevity of a tree.
A tree in the wild can sometimes live to be ancient.
More than likely, it will suffer catastrophic damage from disease, weather, logging, floods, drought, or insects.
Many ornamental trees in peoples yards I notice will die prematurely out of neglect. Roots can spread too quickly and strangulate itself if they are twisting over and around itself. Similarly, branches up high can shade out limbs below causing them to become leggy and weak. Even flowering trees, without maintenance, I often find entire branches die of disease and rot, because the faded blooms have coated all the leaves with a film of wet debris.
Beautifully designed bonsai trees that are well taken care of can sometimes live to be hundreds of years old. This is what we should aspire to.
Bonsai trees are especially garden trees that are ornamental, exotic, and require regular maintenance in order to be appreciated at home where they would otherwise never normally grow.
Treat your trees with the respect and reverence they deserve, and they will be the envy of your community.
Photos in this post are all #originalworks by 
#teambonsai 
No memberships. Love trees. Make friends. Grow together.
