AusBonsai

Hi,

I trunk chopped this Chinese Elm back in September.



Should I trim off unwanted shoots and keep the new leader and branch now?

I was thinking of the leader on the left, trim the others and keep a branch on the right, perhaps one of the more horizontal ones?

And keep that lowest shoot to help promote some taper?

All help much appreciated!

Chris.


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Leaving extra shoots growing from one spot will thicken the trunk at that spot. Remove extra shoots as soon as you can identify which ones to keep.
I think your plan to take off strong vertical ones on the right is sound. Just leave 1 stronger leader on the left.
The lower ones can be left to thicken lower trunk but be aware that when you eventually cut them you will have scars so don't let them get too big.

MacGuyver wrote:Hi,

I trunk chopped this Chinese Elm back in September.

Should I trim off unwanted shoots and keep the new leader and branch now?

I was thinking of the leader on the left, trim the others and keep a branch on the right, perhaps one of the more horizontal ones?

And keep that lowest shoot to help promote some taper?

All help much appreciated!


Chris.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My :
I'd do as you say, but keep a more vertical branch as the leader (make sure there is a change of direction from the original trunk, or wire that in) and probably modify the angle of the original cut now so that it is more sympathetic to the new line you are proposing. It means the scar will begin to heal in line with your new trunk profile. Definitely keep the lower right branches as sacrificial to thicken the trunk at least for the short term.
Nice job.

Thanks guys, will sort it out this afternoon and post a pic.

I'm happy with this.

Should that leader be left to extend the rest of the season or will it thicken more if I trim and let it shoot?


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It wouldn't hurt to let the whole tree grow unchecked until the end of the current growing season. That will allow the shoots to harden off and expand during Autumn.

Will do thanks, I will also wire that leader to match the line of the trunk cut too.

MacGuyver wrote:Will do thanks, I will also wire that leader to match the line of the trunk cut too.

The left hand leader in your pic looks pretty good, I'd leave it but maybe think about wiring the top right branch to be exactly that, a branch - more horizontal so it doesn't compete as a second trunk with your leader. I might've put a stronger angle on the initial trunk chop, but hard to say from a pic. I think you've done some good work so far... it will be fine, but like Watto said, now just let it grow!

Would you wire it now or let it grow and wire at the end of summer?

I'd do it now, it looks big enough, and it's easier to get good placement on thinner branches in my experience, it will then thicken in the position you want, just be careful of the wire biting in over the growing season, keep an eye on it...

Also take great care in wiring and bending these new shoots. They are hardly attached to the old trunk yet and will drop off if you move the base too much.
If you are competent with wire go ahead.
If you are a beginner leave it a bit longer.

So I had to come back to this thread to get an idea of what date I wired this branch and leader.

In under two weeks the length of the shoots has doubled and their thickness doubled also, needless to say the wire cut in slightly, it is a young shoot and growing vigorously so should be fine.

When I read that you must be prudent with monitoring wire and branch thickness, I dismissed it thinking I'd have much more time that that!

Lesson learnt.