A. Beech, how would you proceed?

Hello all.

I've recently collected this American beech and am looking for some input.

If it lives, how would you proceed with development? Is it worth proceeding?
It's planted in pure Kanuma.

That's dope as hell.

Steps one 2 and 3.

Ensure survival!

Sorce

Once well established in a pot, it looks like it is already on the path of a gnarly @BobbyLane tree!

Would you suggest removing that larger branch and developing the smaller branches, or leaving it?

I would wait to see of course what survives. If you can get a bud lower on the big branch, then I'd cut it down and keep it.

Aeast said:

Would you suggest removing that larger branch and developing the smaller branches, or leaving it?

Click to expand...

First, make sure it survives and develops strong roots. I would be worried if you prune too much before roots are developed you will kill the tree.

Right now it is two trees in one - the old stump and new growth from the top. The new growth is straight and lacking taper, and it is incongruous with the stump, which is where all the character and interest is. Eventually I think you will want to shorten all of that young growth as much as possible and build a new profile using the stump as the visual base.

Even so, the stump is a little funky. I think you need to decide if you are going with a multi-trunk design, or single trunk. If you go with a single trunk I think you are going to want to jin the rest of the stump.

Aeast said:

Hello all.

I've recently collected this American beech and am looking for some input.

If it lives, how would you proceed with development? Is it worth proceeding?

Click to expand...

Why did you collect it? Was there something about it that caught your eye? If so, that's where you'll want to start.
It should be allowed to recover this growing season, and by next fall, you'll know what you have to work with.

JudyB said:

I would wait to see of course what survives. If you can get a bud lower on the big branch, then I'd cut it down and keep it.

Click to expand...

This is the same plan I would have

eoT lemaC

Sorce

I collected it because I see something interesting in there and like the hollow trunk. I got a decent amount of roots upon collection so I think it has a good chance at survival.

I'm leaning more towards a multi trunk design.

Its basically a straight stump with a cluster of branches coming from the same point, lends itself to a broom. in the future you will hope to get back budding on the thicker bits and cut them back.
I have a beech stump ive been working on
IMG_3306 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
IMG_3429 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

if i get some back budding after the first cut back ill go in and reduce the thicker areas some more.
looks like you did some cut backs already, so i'd wait and see what happens. also, always leave viable buds on beech branches or there is a big chance the branch will die back, it isnt like an elm.

Thanks for posting that bobby, that's the image I'm looking for. They look quite similar, especially your first picture.

I actually only made one cut on one of the larger branches because it was about 3ft tall without much up top. The other branches were naturally broken off.

Should I keep this on a heat pad or just do the bonsai shuffle at night?