Re: celtis- chinese hackberry
Posted: December 5th, 2009, 10:45 pm
When working with trees like these I always like to give myself plenty of room to move. It is my buffer zone against chop remarks. I don't find lack of taper a big issue in certain styles. I know that trees can go as high as 12:1 and at that size as long as there is no reverse taper and room for good transition on a chop to create an elegant trunk I am confident to continue when I am not much over the 6:1 ratio.
Your height may work I myself would go a touch lower just so that I could be confident that the years ahead are worth it and I don't have to start again. It is like a good bet. I sacrifice a possible 1-2 years growth to ensure against going back 5 years when I decide I should have gone lower 5 years later.
I almost think you will need a lower branch with the height you have picked and with proper training it will soon catch up to and surpass the other branches. Again it could work your way but I see no harm (good bet) in choosing a lower branch for now. It will only help taper and can be removed later.
It is a different species and I think has a little better taper than yours but I am at a similar structure stage with this juni at the moment.
Actual Measurement 40mm x 300mm(reasonable imagined finished height) which makes it 7.5:1. I would be happy to go to almost 9:1 with this, If need be, and still keep a slight hint of masculinity.
I cut it down severely from a Bunnings Juniper $50, I had picked up for someone else to work on as I am scared of Junipers. I am very happy it is starting to grow again as It is only about 10% of the original tree. One to two years to recover and I can start some more work.
In my virt/mud map I have indicated where I think you should cut the branches back.
Remember chopping this tree back as far as Antonio suggest will not cause the tree any ill health. Trimming these branches as I have indicated after what you have done will also cause the tree no harm. (and it will be the start of great ramification) As long as it encounters no other stress so just be extra careful after this that it receives no other stresses and it will power back in no time. The health was obviously excellent before this work.
Your height may work I myself would go a touch lower just so that I could be confident that the years ahead are worth it and I don't have to start again. It is like a good bet. I sacrifice a possible 1-2 years growth to ensure against going back 5 years when I decide I should have gone lower 5 years later.
I almost think you will need a lower branch with the height you have picked and with proper training it will soon catch up to and surpass the other branches. Again it could work your way but I see no harm (good bet) in choosing a lower branch for now. It will only help taper and can be removed later.
It is a different species and I think has a little better taper than yours but I am at a similar structure stage with this juni at the moment.
Actual Measurement 40mm x 300mm(reasonable imagined finished height) which makes it 7.5:1. I would be happy to go to almost 9:1 with this, If need be, and still keep a slight hint of masculinity.
I cut it down severely from a Bunnings Juniper $50, I had picked up for someone else to work on as I am scared of Junipers. I am very happy it is starting to grow again as It is only about 10% of the original tree. One to two years to recover and I can start some more work.
In my virt/mud map I have indicated where I think you should cut the branches back.
Remember chopping this tree back as far as Antonio suggest will not cause the tree any ill health. Trimming these branches as I have indicated after what you have done will also cause the tree no harm. (and it will be the start of great ramification) As long as it encounters no other stress so just be extra careful after this that it receives no other stresses and it will power back in no time. The health was obviously excellent before this work.
thanks for the info, yea the tree was in great health when i received it and as far as i know and am concerned it still is 
