In a message dated 4/12/2003 11:44:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
writes:

Hello,
I recently bought a Bald cypress that is just starting to
come out of it's
dormancy. My original plan was to plant it (very soon) in the
ground for
one or two years to fatten up the trunk before I did the
first trunk chop.(
over 6 feet tall right now). But, a lot of new buds have
started to grow
within the first foot of it's trunk, right where I would need
them to form
after I chop it. What should I do about these? Should I rub
them out and
continue with my plan? Or is it important that I take
advantage of them now
and go ahead and do the chop?
Thanks for any help!
Audgen (zone 7)


Audgen,
Go ahead and chop it now. Do not rub the new buds outs, but do
not panic if
some get rubbed off during the trunk chop operation, they will
bud again from
these same points.


Then, let them grow untouched all summer. Next year, choose a
branch near the top that can make a new header and tie or wire it
upright. You can then select and prune the other branches if you
wish, or leave them to grow and help the trunk fatten.

You may have to chop 2 or 3 times more, depending on what you're
looking for as a BC bonsai.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Our life is
frittered away by detail . . . . Simplify! Simplify. -- Henry
David Thoreau - Walden

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