Removing layers winter/ spring

[Paulneill]

Hi everyone

I have a few air layers Celtis.and plum.that I want to leave on a bit longer . As summer is coming to an end I assume it will have to be early spring until I can remove them . The layers are at the base of the branches with a long distance from the foliage . Should I hard prune the layer late winter and then remove them completely after they have some new spring has formed ?


Thanks guys in advance for any input .

[shibui]

Paul,
Firstly, layers will usually survive even with very small amount of root because they are growing roots so rapidly.

If you do want to leave them then its ok to leave them until winter or early spring. When the tree is dormant it needs few roots to survive and will start to grow more roots early in spring before the buds open.

I have found with Japanese maples that layers taken off in winter often die from fungal infection that probably gets in through the cut at the base so I prefer to pot up layers in warmer weather so they heal quickly. I'm not sure whether this would apply to celtus and plum.

re long layers need to be cut back: Why did you layer branches like this? One of the aims of layering is to get good material so better to select good material to layer.
I think your problems will be that the new layers with relatively few roots will take longer to grow new shoots and branches than usual when you cut them back. Cutting them back now while the layers are taking will slow the root production because the leaves on the layer are feeding the new roots so I'm not sure which would be better. I think maybe it would have been better to cut back the branches and wait for them to shoot before putting the layers on (all the energy and resources of the tree would see them reshoot very quickly then plenty of fresh new growth would stimulate new roots very quickly) but I know we are all in so much of a rush and often get the cart in front of the horse and it ends up taking longer anyway! You could try leaving the new layers long for a while until they have plenty of new roots then cut them back say mid summer or possibly the following winter?

[Paulneill]

hi shibui

you asked me

Why did you layer branches like this?

I like large layers 3 inches thick with taper making up the bottom half of my future trees . I have layered 20 different trees this year and im only getting started I find most of the appealing branches are not near folage but were there are branches dividing giving the layer taper ,

I think i will wait until late winter and remove the layers and also hard prune them leaving no foliage , fingers crossed .