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Pruning Prior to First Major Trunk Chop?
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 |
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