Branch Development Advise

[source]

Hey guys

Just wanted to get some advise on developing branches as a new comer to the hobby.

I've got the following tree that I bought and trunk chopped this season (spring/summer). It hasn't yet developed leaders at the top which is what I was looking for, but that is because I also cut the roots back a bit and it bled. In retrospect I was supposed to leave the root system intact to not deplete food for growth of a new leader. But I'll wait for next season to hopefully get a leader higher up. I'm not going to be pruning the branches this spring or summer, only in later Winter, but I don't really understand how to go about developing a branch with good taper and ramification. For example in this case I am wanting to prune the two lower branches back hard in late winter to encourage lots of budding on the trunk for high branches. But I also want to develop the lower branches slowly for the future. I'm not sure what will happen when I make a cut like below. What direction will the branch grow in, and how to go about getting a ramified foliage pad?

Any advise or pictures would be great

Here is the first image of the tree currently



Here is the second image of the very general idea of what I want to do, as well as a cut marks where I would plan to hardprune the branches in later winter. It is currently late spring. What would happen if I cut here?



Thanks a lot!

[Concept]

I THINK and please someone correct me if I am wrong as I am also only in my early days.

But by not having any foliage on that stump, will it cause die-back down to the two branches where there is still foliage?

Sorry source, if I am the bearer of bad news... *hopes not*

[source]

I THINK and please someone correct me if I am wrong as I am also only in my early days.

But by not having any foliage on that stump, will it cause die-back down to the two branches where there is still foliage?

Sorry source, if I am the bearer of bad news... *hopes not*

:/ I hope not ... I've been scratch near the very top every now and then and the cambium is still bright green...

[Paulneill]

Hi source.

That tree looks like it does has 4 buds above the 2 branches. Wether it will use them is had to tell, It doesn't look very healthy and the soil looks very wet and trees hate that. Have you concidered using inorganic soils?
Best thing to do would be stick it in the ground if possible or cut the bottom out of that pot and let the roots escape.
Also keep the 2 low branches as sacrifice branches to help thicken below them and give better taper. Like I read somewhere before dont try to grow a tree grow a trunk worry about branches later.
Don't be afraid to let the soil dry out just check it every day. Watering is the key to healthy trees.

[kcpoole]

It is a trident maple and should shoot above the low branches.
allow the soil almost dry out before watering as it looks wet to me as Paul says.

Let it recover from the chop and let it recover. when it shoots, let them all grow for a few months and then see what you have to use.

Ken

[shibui]

The way to get well ramified branches is to grow and cut, grow and cut repeatedly.
The branches you have are already nearly the thickness you want them. I think it is time for the first cut. They will continue to thicken as you grow the rest of the branch.
After pruning this time only let the new shoots get to 4-6 leaves long before cutting again. Allow the tips of the branches to grow longer than the side shoots to restrict the thickness of the sub branches.
Pruning will also give some very impprtant movement to the branches.

[source]

Thanks for the replies and advise.

The reason the soil is wet is I took the pic a little after I watered it. I have done a lot of research on how to water and look after the trees, to put anyone's minds at ease I leave it until an inch or so into the surface of the soil is dryish, then water it thoroughly, twice in between 10 minute intervals.

Ye I think the main issue and reason I didn't get buds sprouting higher up was because I only learnt afterwards that if you want vigorous, explosive growth you should not prune the roots when doing a trunk chop I unfortunately did take a little under a third of the roots off at the same time and it did bleed quite a bit :/ Beginners mistake I guess. Otherwise it looks to be recovering well and the side branches are growing fast.

My plan at the moment is to leave the branches to grow for the rest of the season in order to not put any more stress on the tree and allow it to store sufficient food for the next season.

Does this seem like the right way to go? I'm hesitant to cut back the lower branches heavily until next winter before the next spring growth.