Pick My Front (WARNING: 4MEG GIF)

[BillsBayou]

The boxwood came from a hedge. It's been in a nursery pot for 2-1/2 years. One large trunk, I believe from a separate tree, died recently. The tree was deep in a large pot, so I pulled it out to see just what was dying in there. Luckily, it was an individual tree. I cut it off (frames 18-30 show the cut). What it left behind is what I should have seen from the beginning. The missing tree left a large void that will eventually be filled in with back branches.

While I like frames 1-2, and 45-46 (as the animation loops back to the front), what I don't like is the large slingshot aimed right at me. There are some crossing trunks off to the left. I need to cut out the one going straight up vertical.

Here's the animation (you were warned). Let me know if this is annoying.

AnimatedBoxwood.gif (3.68 MiB) Viewed 1106 times

I sped up the animation at the sides. The arrangement is very flat from the sides.

The back, where I cut the trunk, has a troublesome root going around the dead trunk. This is one reason I have for making this the back. Another reason is the "catcher's mitt" arrangement of the remaining trunks. You can make this out from viewing the side angles. I didn't care for this at all.

[lewisjk]

Your "catcher's mitt" seems to me to add some depth to the tree.

[MatsuBonsai]

I like 41-42 for a front. It minimizes the slingshot and adds a little more depth. Also, get that thing planted deeper so you can avoid the mounded soil. Flat soil level is much more attractive and much less a pain to water.