bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Chopping a Deciduous Tree

Quote:

Originally Posted by rzeles

All,

Looking for some insight re: Chopping a Deciduous Tree.

I already have a bunch of pines, junipers, etc., trying to start some new Pre-Bonsai's in the Deciduous variety.

I plan on Air Layering a large Maple I have in the Spring (as I understand this is the best time).

Question is, all the Deciduous trees I see at the nursery are 16-20 ft tall.

Can I take one of these and essentially chop it down to about 1 ft. and expect new growth from bellow that cut, or does there need to be existing branches below that chop to ensure growth?

I assume Spring, before the new buds swell, is the best time to conduct this drastic pruning.

Thanks.
Ron

Hi there, with nursery trees you often find that the canopies have been lifted continuously to promote height. This means that any growth lower down the trunks has been continually removed. You might find that if you chop a commercial tree there will be no new buds due to their habitual removal. You could ask about this at the nursery or look for a specimen with low growth. Last year I bought a Ginkgo and it had only one very weak, short, low branch, but it had dormant buds that looked lively. I chopped it from 12 feet down to 2 ft. and it sprouted really well. An air layering might produce some bottom growth on one of these trees'.Good luck.