Will back budding occur on new leader?

[source]

Hi guys

Just had a question in terms of the first tree I'm developing - a Japanese maple. It's made great progress since last season when it was just a stump - the whole process is very exciting

Anyhow, what I wanted to ask is, in the picture the buds appearing on the new leader are pretty far apart (marked in red). Do you think backbudding will still possibly occur on other areas of the new leader (marked in yellow). The trunk chop on this leader, to develop the next section with more taper was done this season (which has started where I am (spring)). I'm hoping some more backbudding may occur so I can develop more branches in that section of the tree...


Thanks for any answers...

[Grant Bowie]

It will depend if their are any nodes it can bud from. From what I can see it does not look likely.

To me the distribution of new buds looks adequate for the thickness and height of the trunk etc; unless you are after a real mini.

Let the new branches develop strongly for a year to get vigour into the tree then cut back hard again. You may get some unexpected buds next year.

Grant

[source]

Thanks Grant

Great advise... I will do that. Not after a mini, the but looking to keep the height of the tree around 1:6/1:7. So it will only be a little higher when 'finished' than in the pic - about another third of the new leader height. I should hopefully be able to make it work... I did this years trunk chop at not quite the right time unfortunately, still learning a lot, and should have done it after the new leaves had hardened off to get shorter internodes. But the root system is not yet that strong (another reason to let the tree regain vigour this year), so hoping to get some short internodes.