[IBC] beech trunk chop? to chop or not to chop....that's the question....
 

Dear readers,

I have an american beech tree that is about 5 inches in diameter at
the base. It is about 3.5 inches in diameter at about 1.5 ft above the soil
( where i intend on cutting). There is no growth that far up, but there was
last year a few sprigs that I cut off. ( the tree is over 20 ft tall but all
the growth is about 2-3 ft above the soil and up) Now here is my question.
I was told not to cut it completely unless it had some of last year's buds
below the cut. What do yall recomend I do? Do beeches bud back well on the
trunk when trunk chopped? I would appreciate as many responces as possible
because I must get this tree worked on before the buds open. I appreciate
any help!
Sam Williams
( zone 6b-7a Central Virginia,
USA)

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[IBC] beech trunk chop? to chop or not to chop....that's the question....
 

Dear readers,

I have an american beech tree that is about 5 inches in
diameter at
the base. It is about 3.5 inches in diameter at about 1.5 ft
above the soil
( where i intend on cutting). There is no growth that far up,
but there was
last year a few sprigs that I cut off. ( the tree is over 20
ft tall but all
the growth is about 2-3 ft above the soil and up) Now here is
my question.
I was told not to cut it completely unless it had some of last
year's buds
below the cut. What do yall recomend I do? Do beeches bud
back well on the
trunk when trunk chopped? I would appreciate as many responces
as possible
because I must get this tree worked on before the buds open. I
appreciate
any help!
Sam Williams
( zone 6b-7a Central
Virginia,
USA)

It _probably_ will bud back. However, the buds will NOT be where
you want them; neither will they emerge from the trunk in an
always acceptable manner. And you may have too few for its
long-term survival.

If _I_ were you, I would cut ALL top branches back to a single
bud and let backbudding occur where it will this year. Do
NOTHING else to the tree. Fertilize heavily. Leave appropriate
buds that sprout out from the trunk and let them grow for a
couple of years (until they have two or three buds of their own).
THEN I would do the trunk chop.

Chopping now is more likely than not to lose the tree to a slow,
lingering death.

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

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Evergreen Gardenworks++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++