Liquidambar

[Anth]

Hi all I posted this tree up last week asking for some advice.

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I spent a little time on it on the weekend and wired it up and into it's first ceramic pot.
I am un sure wether I should cut it back now or wait for the first flush of leaves.

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I'm open to suggestions and critique

[anttal63]

What do you mean by cut back ??? Anything severe should be done before leaf breaks out. IMO

[Anth]

Don't mind me I mis understood someones advice.

[kcpoole]

Nothing to do with this one yet

After leaf out, wait till each branch has 4 leaves, then cut back to 2 only.
the other option is to let the first 2 leaves open, then pinch the tip of the new shoot back.

Ken

[matlea]

I think the second option if done early will create shorter internodes... But not sure if the tree gets less energy than letting grow to a few leaves then cutting back to a pair.... Anyone confirm?

[Tony Bebb]

Hi Anth

As I mentioned in your other post, you can simply knock off just the fat end bud so they don't grow so strong from the end in spring. This gets more shoots to grow from behind that straight away which will be smaller. You can then do the usual of letting them all grow a few leaves and tip prune as Ken has said.

Tony

[Anth]

Thanks for you help.

[kcpoole]

Hi Anth

As I mentioned in your other post, you can simply knock off just the fat end bud so they don't grow so strong from the end in spring. This gets more shoots to grow from behind that straight away which will be smaller. You can then do the usual of letting them all grow a few leaves and tip prune as Ken has said.

Tony

Hey thanks Tony. Never heard of this tecnique. Might give it a go this evening

Ken

[Dario]

Hi Ken, you can also try the technique Tony mentioned on your oaks
Cheers, Dario.

[Tony Bebb]

No worries Ken. Sharing is learning.

I have used it on Liquidambars and Maples, but should apply to any deciduous tree. Same technique as on any tree really, but timing is the key with any species. Best with deciduous before the buds swell too much. You want to catch them before the energy goes into the terminal bud so as not to slow them down.

Let us know how it goes.

Tony

[kcpoole]

No worries Ken. Sharing is learning.

I have used it on Liquidambars and Maples, but should apply to any deciduous tree. Same technique as on any tree really, but timing is the key with any species. Best with deciduous before the buds swell too much. You want to catch them before the energy goes into the terminal bud so as not to slow them down.

Let us know how it goes.

Tony

I picked all the larger buds on LA tonight. It has not started to swell yet and have taken off all the larger ones form the thicker branching. Plenty of smaller ones still there that will get plucked if they start to bulk up too much

Also nice tip about the oaks too I think they will get done on the weekend
Ken

[Craig]

Hi Anth

As I mentioned in your other post, you can simply knock off just the fat end bud so they don't grow so strong from the end in spring. This gets more shoots to grow from behind that straight away which will be smaller. You can then do the usual of letting them all grow a few leaves and tip prune as Ken has said.

Tony

I use the same technique as Tony does, knocking off the terminal buds .