Curly Willow: From Big To Little [Bonsai]

This tree is ready to be pruned. It's a Curly Willow with an attitude. I'm taking it in for a cut, and it doesn't look like it wants to be tamed at all. In this wild state, anything could happen.

See the tall branches on the left side?

They are growing as suckers straight out of the soil line from the base of the trunk.

Normally I would pinch branches before they get a few inches long, but this one I allowed to get as tall as it wanted.

The reason I let it grow so long is because it is helping to add girth to the base of the tree. As this branch grows thicker and taller, it's also expanding the width of the trunk.

Another theory is that this healthy and strong green branch is adding growth energy to the entire tree. Letting it grow to full size is helping the tree to build up energy that it will store for next year. Every day this energy is being spread through the vascular system of the entire tree as it absorbs water from the soil. By removing this limb, I can safely assume the produced energy isn't stored up only this one branch.

Can't let this branch continue to remain for a second season, because this branch will harden off and start to become the new main trunk next year. It would actually drain away the growth energy that should be going to all the other lower branches. Another problem with not pruning is that cutting it too late, and it will leave a huge circular scar forever. Big hardwood scars will continue to be a portal for disease, rot, and boring insects for the rest of a tree's life.

I think this is the perfect time to trim this branch off, while it is still green and able to heal over.

While I'm at it, I'll also trim down the other branches into proper bonsai size proportions.

The end results turned out quite nice. Very dainty and clean once again. It looks more stable in this form. No worries it will tip over or snap in a strong wind.

The interesting knot on the dead drunk once again become the focal point. I also enjoy the side forking dead branches, because they follow the same jagged parallel angles. Before the trim, they were hidden from view.

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Photos in this post are all #originalworks by @creativetruth, unless stated otherwise.

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