Help with Ash trunk chop.

ForrestGump · May 27, 2016

Hi all! So I collected a wild Ash tree. Blue ash I think. It was about 6 ft tall and the trunk is about 2 inchest thick. I'm new to this but wanted to do an upright styling.

So when I got the tree in the pot earlier this spring, there was one main trunk, which I chopped down to about 6 inches. There was 3 other small shoots about 2-3 feet tall, coming from the base of the trunk. I left those when doing the original chop. After a couple weeks a few new buds emerged near the base of the trunk and the buds on the older branches emerged. I had been hoping a new leader would form near the cut I had made, and not at the base of the trunk.

For plan B I chopped every branch off the tree and left it as a bare stump about 6 inches tall. Within a few days a new shoot emerged from the base of the trunk.

Now I don't know what to do. I want a leader at the top near the cut so it can grow into what will be the new trunk secton. Should I just leave it be? Will more shoots emerge over time? Or should I chop the buds that emerge at the bottom in effort to force one from the top? Any advice? I will try to post a pic if possible. Thanks!

sorce · May 28, 2016

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

vaibatron · May 28, 2016

Can't speak on the vigor of ash, but with most deciduous trees, it proves helpful to cover the chop to avoid dieback. In doing so you can usually expect buds to emerge closer to the chop site.

There is always a possibility of grafting a leader if the chop site is not died back.

ForrestGump · May 28, 2016

Is there anything around the house I can cover it with? ..and should I leave the new shoots as the come from the bottom, or pluck them lol?

Thanks for the reply!

Cypress187 · May 28, 2016

vaibatron said:
helpful to cover the chop to avoid dieback.

How cover? I have chopped a birch and I have the same problem, I sealed the chop with paste.

ForrestGump · May 28, 2016

Ok will do! I just checked and there is 4 more shoots today, but they are all at the bottom lol

Cypress187 · May 28, 2016

ForrestGump said:
Ok will do! I just checked and there is 4 more shoots today, but they are all at the bottom lol

Yeah me2, I have like 9 shoots on the bottom

And the one (another birch) who had good shoots got insects, I hope he will make it.

ForrestGump · May 28, 2016

I wonder what would happen if I put a sleeve on the base to stop new growth.

JudyB · May 28, 2016

I don't know where you are located, but starting an ash tree project is likely a sad and fruitless waste of time. Ash borers have decimated every single ash tree near my area, and I'm getting the first dieback this year. Looks like about half are done for, and the rest is just a matter of time, and not much time at that. Literally hundreds of trees. Good luck...

ForrestGump · May 28, 2016

Oh man. I'm in michigan. Hopefully she will be ok.

Tieball · May 28, 2016

Before you cover that chop cut, if you cover it, use a very sharp knife and cut the edge. Cut it to where you see green and healthy. Then seal it.

ForrestGump · May 28, 2016

Ok thanks!

vaibatron · May 28, 2016

Cypress187 said:
How cover? I have chopped a birch and I have the same problem, I sealed the chop with paste.

I use the japanese can with the white top for deciduous...looks and feels much like play doh.. If that helps?

http://www.amazon.com/Joshua-Roth-6044-Bonsai-Paste/dp/B000X36W7O

M. Frary · May 29, 2016

ForrestGump said:
Oh man. I'm in michigan. Hopefully she will be ok.

You're from Michigan. That means it's white ash.
Just let it die. It won't ever make a decent bonsai. It grows big compound leaves and has long internodes.
The emerald ash beetle only attacks bigger trees but from what I'm seeing with small ones is that there is something getting them. The leaves are sickly looking and have brown spots.
I wouldn't invest any time into one of these trees. There are much better trees.

Tieball · May 29, 2016

Instead....in Michigan....try an American Elm. A native tree. You can find seedlings if you're looking. Even if small....very small. The tree grows fast. You don't necessarily need to find a fully grown tree to chop. Grow it on a tile. Root trench it every third year. Responds very well to pruning. Handles a hard root prune with ease. Stays outdoors all year. Tolerates drought times. Full sun. Full wind. Full snow. Let it grow to thicken the trunk. No winter care other than leave it outdoors. When you do chop the trunk....you'll have buds popping out everywhere...up and down the trunk.

ForrestGump · Jul 8, 2016

Ok so I couldn't just let it die. I mean if it dies it dies lol, but it's still kickin. I just thought I'd post an updated pic and see if there is any hope for a nice piece one day. Or at least a nice trunk lol?

Moonster · Jul 8, 2016

ForrestGump said:
Ok so I couldn't just let it die. I mean if it dies it dies lol, but it's still kickin. I just thought I'd post an updated pic and see if there is any hope for a nice piece one day. Or at least a nice trunk lol?

even if it never makes a good bonsai, could always use it to practice techniques on!

ForrestGump · Jul 8, 2016

Good point! And I'm still on the hunt for a wild American Elm. I haven't found one small enough to dig up. Not even a seedling.

M. Frary · Jul 8, 2016

ForrestGump said:
And I'm still on the hunt for a wild American Elm. I haven't found one small enough to dig up

The best places to find these trees is along fence rows and along road sides.

aml1014 · Jul 8, 2016

ForrestGump said:
Ok so I couldn't just let it die. I mean if it dies it dies lol, but it's still kickin. I just thought I'd post an updated pic and see if there is any hope for a nice piece one day. Or at least a nice trunk lol?

Chop it to that branch and make it a future winter showing mame ash, just let it grow each year then cut back to the first node

lmfao

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