AusBonsai

Hi

Do you think it is too late for large trunk chops of field grown deciduous trees such as maples or elms?
I am talking about 2-3inch trunks that have been field grown and have never had a chop.

My thought is to do it before bud burst so I can select a new leader from the vigorous growth.
But given everything has harden and growing vigorously now, I am tempted to trunk chop one or two that I think, has reached the desired thickness.

chop away mate. It will sprout back soon.

Any time except autum because they sprout just in time for tender new growth to go into winter.
Cutting now they will sprout new shoots almost immediately and will have time to mature a bit before end of growing season.

I purchased a rather large and leggy ash tree a couple of weeks ago, trunk chopped it that day and now have buds popping everywhere. So I'm in the get chopping camp.....

I chopped 3 Japanese's maples and a trident 2 weeks ago and are growing great.

Cheers
Matt

Chop Chop

Chopping this weekend.
Thanks for all your replies and have a great festive season. Merry Christmas.

Just a related question, I have a trident I want to chop but I'd like to keep the top as a cutting. Will I have to wait until winter? I have supplies for taking cuttings but I haven't any peat etc for air layering. Would worm farm compost work for a layer?

I have a trident I want to chop but I'd like to keep the top as a cutting. Will I have to wait until winter? I have supplies for taking cuttings but I haven't any peat etc for air layering. Would worm farm compost work for a layer?

Now is a good time to layer.
Best to use sterile material for cuttings and layers. Some people use potting mix successfully but compost, etc is full of bacteria and fungi. That's what makes it good but putting it close to raw wounds could cause problems if there is any harmful ones in it.
If you have supplies for cuttings you should have propagating mix. Propagating mix should be ideal for layering, just keep an eye on the moisture content in the hot weather- it may dry out a bit quicker than sphagnum or peat.

Thanks shibui, I might give it a go

How long would you expect it to be before roots started developing on a half inch width trident? And how long before there'd be enough to remove it?

How long would you expect it to be before roots started developing on a half inch width trident?

It all depends......on: Your technique; How healthy and vigorous the tree is; Weather; Time of year; and lots more. I would hope to see roots in around 3-6 weeks but could be up to 3 months.

And how long before there'd be enough to remove it?

Again, see all the above factors and add depends on how brave you are and how you can look after it after separation. A layer put on in spring might be able to be separated later in the summer but sometimes needs to be left on until the following spring. A small 1/2 inch thick trident layer on a vigorous, healthy tree could have enough roots to survive separation in as little as 8 weeks. You'd actually be surprised at how few roots are needed for a relatively large layer to survive. I have removed some with only a few, short roots (without much hope of survival) but they have grown on strongly.

Thanks shibui for another quick, knowledgeable response I've been amazed by the hardiness and vigor I've seen in tridents so far so more than happy to push the boundaries a bit more guess I'll wait a few more weeks and peel the alfoil back to check