This is a Quercus Grisea – Gray Oak yamaodri tree I got from Cho Bonsai and the tree was heavily damaged during shipment resulting in the tree loosing most of its major branches and some significant deadwood on it. So I have been letting the tree grow where ever it wants to build up its strength and develop new branches. I did wire this tree last fall (2019) and tree did bud out in the spring ok. A couple of the newer larger branches did die during the summer. Branch die back is a problem with this species as there is no reason for branches dying back other then tree simply wants to kill them off! I did remove all of the wire in the fall and restyle the tree and hopefully the branches will all survive the winter and bud out in the spring. The new goal will be to develop ramification on the existing branches and fill in the top with smaller branches and small leaves.
Photo of tree before it was heavily damaged:
Photo courtesy of Cho Bonsai