Chopped Willow leaf ficus

[Steve C]

Over the winter I picked up this willow leaf ficus from a member here that was selling it. It had a nice large base and thick trunk but was too tall and no branch structure down low. I didn't want to chop it till the time was right so after getting it outside back in the spring I chopped it down to size about 2 months ago. Took a bit to start back budding but the past month now it's really starting to sprout growth all over the place. Probably let it grow wild for a couple years till I can see what the new leader and branching will end up being.

 

[Steve C]

Getting more & more new growth just even over the past couple weeks. Some of the heavy growth is coming from the very back of the tree which will end up being removed for sure when I start working it down the road. So would it be a good idea to remove some of those branches now to redirect energy to the ones that I will probably be keeping, or just let it keep going wild till I start working it on down the road?

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I would wait until the new growth begins to lignify (turn woody). Then I'd go through and remove any clusters of branches until there is only one branch per cluster. Otherwise they'll start to swell and create bumps.

 

[Steve C]

Will do thanks Ryan.