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Mr. Jorge,

As you are aware after visiting my garden I do not use the same method of trunk chop that you are speaking of, but I have used this method in the past and Mr. Andy is on the money in my opinion...Far too often the chop is made too high on the trunk in order to 'speed' the process by not having to re-grow the wood, however this leaves a rather ugly taper...The bald cypress is quite a fast growing tree in our area if heavily fertilized, well watered, and given enough room for the roots to grow...One can chop the trunk every year or two doing so at an extreme angle and achieve a much better looking taper...On the first few chops I would even suggest making the cut so that it is 3 or 4 times as tall as it is wide, then allow the new leader to grow until the scar calluses over and chop the leader again a bit higher...

I would highly recommend a visit to the website of Mr. Gary Marchal Cajun Bonsai, go to the bonsai page, and near the bottom of the photos is a collected bald cypress that Mr. Gary titled "Sarah's Bald Cypress"...Mr. Gary gives a really good explanation of the process he uses as well as the reasoning behind the technique...

Regards
Behr

9-Mar-2007	#7
grampz Behr Appleby Join Date: Aug-2003 Location: Kyle Tx Country: USA USDA Zone: 8 AHS Heat Zone: 10 Posts: 946	Mr. Jorge, As you are aware after visiting my garden I do not use the same method of trunk chop that you are speaking of, but I have used this method in the past and Mr. Andy is on the money in my opinion...Far too often the chop is made too high on the trunk in order to 'speed' the process by not having to re-grow the wood, however this leaves a rather ugly taper...The bald cypress is quite a fast growing tree in our area if heavily fertilized, well watered, and given enough room for the roots to grow...One can chop the trunk every year or two doing so at an extreme angle and achieve a much better looking taper...On the first few chops I would even suggest making the cut so that it is 3 or 4 times as tall as it is wide, then allow the new leader to grow until the scar calluses over and chop the leader again a bit higher... I would highly recommend a visit to the website of Mr. Gary Marchal Cajun Bonsai, go to the bonsai page, and near the bottom of the photos is a collected bald cypress that Mr. Gary titled "Sarah's Bald Cypress"...Mr. Gary gives a really good explanation of the process he uses as well as the reasoning behind the technique... Regards Behr __________________ As the Master departed the workshop, he could have sworn he heard some one saying rather loudly... *"I thought he would never leave"* San Antonio Bonsai Society, Inc.