I am confused.

Bonsai_Steve

I have about 12 trees in the ground that I am trying to increase the trunk size. The trees consist of Maples, Oaks, elm, Bald cypress, and a Coast Redwood. I have been reading that to increase the trunk size you put them in the ground, being the fastest way, and just let them grow. Some of the trees have developed very long leaders. It was suggested to me the other day by a club member that I Cut back those leaders to slow the engery of the tree going to the top so that it would help in developing the trunk to a larger size.

So now I am confused. Should I just let them grow and not touch them, or should I be pruning off the top to increase trunk size.

Steve

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matsuenbonsai

Hi Steve,

In order to achieve trunk thickness it is necessary to allow the side branches to grow this will increase trunk girth. Removing the apex will reduce the suppresive hormone produced by the apical bud at the apex and allow the side growth to develop.

Hope this helps.

David

Alasdair

What you need to do is sever the leaders at the height you desire you're bonsai to be. Doing this causes the plant to put it's energy into growing the branches further down the trunk. The longer and thicker these lower branches are, the thicker the trunk gets to support them. If you don't cut the top back all you will get is a very tall, relativly thin pole.

Al

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rockm

"It was suggested to me the other day by a club member that I Cut back those leaders to slow the engery of the tree going to the top so that it would help in developing the trunk to a larger size."

"The longer and thicker these lower branches are, the thicker the trunk gets to support them. If you don't cut the top back all you will get is a very tall, relativly thin pole."


Both statements are inaccurate or outright wrong. The more growth the tree has anywhere on the trunk will thicken the trunk. Letting the leader grow will thicken the trunk. Severing it will slow the trunk down. Simple as that. Unrestricted growth=thicker trunk.

At this point, you have to decide WHERE you want growth. Growing trees in the ground usually is done to thicken their trunks up, or to developed taper in the leader. Branch development and ramification can be better controlled in a container. If you are trying to get simple trunk "heft" in the ground, leave all growth alone. Let them grow. Don't prune. You can start pruning for refinement once the trunk has reached the proportions you desire and the tree can be containerized.

md4958

Steve, Cutting the leader will slow down the thickening of the trunk, but will increase the taper. Check out this great article by Brent of Evergreen Gardenworks... http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/trunks.htm After you read this article check out some others, they are all good.

Good Luck,
Moe

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