Hi, all. Three days of unrelenting rain, and Houston is presently a swamp.

A potensai question. This applies specifically to a young A. palmatum "Shin
deshojo" I am growing out in a growing bed. It is a five year old low graft
(from Mountain Maples) and currently has a trunk caliper of about 1.5
inches. Currently, it has no low branches serving as sacrifices.

So far it has had almost no pruning, not even light pruning. The prevailing
logic is to achieve a caliper about 2/3 the intended final caliper before
giving it its first trunk chop. I anticipate at least one and probably two
more seasons before I am at the 2/3 point.

I've noted growers stating that their young nursery stock have pruned down
to 12 or 18 inches to encourage low branching, but I'm wonder the
significance of this when dealing with material that responds vigorously to
trunk chops, and that also generally requires trunk chops in order to
achieve suitable taper.

Assuming that I am going to chop this tree (or any deciduous tree that
responds vigorously to severe pruning) down to, say, 3 inches in order to
achieve dramatic taper, is there really any reason to do any pruning
whatsoever until I've reached that 2/3 caliper point? Does 3 or 4 seasons
of groun

It would seem the arguments for absolutely unrestrained growth would
include:
€ Unrestrained growth equals maximum foliage feeding the roots and tree,
more quickly adding caliper.
€ Long central leader and whips allowed to blow in the wind (particularly
for ground planted trees) will increase buttressing/flair.

Argument against? Well, no low branches to serve as sacrifices or as final
branches, but if I'm cutting down to 3 inches at the first major chop,
sacrifices certainly would not be needed for achieving taper and final side
branches would not yet be an issue. Perhaps, the story would be different
if chopping down to 6 or 7 inches. Is such a case, sacrifices may be
necessary lest the first 7-inch trunk section would have insufficient taper.

Perhaps, am I also being too aggressive by considering a first trunk chop at
3 inches?

I would appreciate any insight.

Blake in Houston