[Tutorial] Trunk chopping

Share your success stories about defoliation, bare rooting and anything else relating to maintaining healthy bonsai.
shibui
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Re: [Tutorial] Trunk chopping

Post by shibui »

Good question Mac.
I find that any branch (deciduous trees?) is able to grow new shoots from the base. So if you cut the branch back and leave a short stub it will almost certainly produce new buds. Having said that I now need to qualify it. If you cut a low branch but leave lots of strong apical shoots the upper shoots may supress the lower buds so if you really need shoots always cut back all over the tree for best results.

Note that I have specified leaving a stub above. New shoots are not really well attached to the trunk. When broken off by 3yos, magpies, livestock with long necks and legs, rough wiring or other assorted pets they often break off below the bark level and I assume take out the basal buds :cry: Only time will tell :fc:

Also worth noting that there are plenty of other magpies, pets, etc but only one 3yo daughter so give her a big hug to remind her that she is special :tu:
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Lane
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Re: [Tutorial] Trunk chopping

Post by Lane »

Cheers Shibui, much appreciated.
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Kieranrulz
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Re: [Tutorial] Trunk chopping

Post by Kieranrulz »

Hi,
Apologies if this has been asked or it just obvious but my chop has started growing with several “branches” coming from the same spot. Do I remove all but 1 or let it grow on and reduce it later?

Thanks in advance
PNG image 29.png
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Ryceman3
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Re: [Tutorial] Trunk chopping

Post by Ryceman3 »

Kieranrulz wrote:Hi,
Apologies if this has been asked or it just obvious but my chop has started growing with several “branches” coming from the same spot. Do I remove all but 1 or let it grow on and reduce it later?

Thanks in advance
PNG image 29.png
Let them elongate a bit and give the tree a chance to regain some strength before selecting branches and cutting back, at least a month or so... You have lots of options which is good. :yes:
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MJL
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Re: [Tutorial] Trunk chopping

Post by MJL »

Keiranrulz... Thanks for your question. Ryceman has provided an answer but I just wanted to say thanks for the question because I had not seen this tutorial before! I went back to the start of the thread and found it very helpful. :tu:

Cheers.
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JimmyBanks
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Re: [Tutorial] Trunk chopping

Post by JimmyBanks »

Just found this, I’m very new to bonsai - well lets be real, I have no bonsai yet - I’m very new to growing trees with the goal of turning them into bonsai.

I fear I may have read this too late... I’ve done some trunk chops as well as some defoliation, I fear I have made some terrible choices.
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melbrackstone
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Re: [Tutorial] Trunk chopping

Post by melbrackstone »

Some trees can be quite forgiving... you might be surprised, JimmyBanks. :)
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Re: [Tutorial] Trunk chopping

Post by GavinG »

Turning your "mistakes" into something interesting is what we do - welcome to the community! Joining a club might be helpful, people will have plenty of stories of how they've stuffed up, and re-adjusted.

Best of luck,

Gavin
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