Fosters Holly - Where to go

[Yankee Dog]

I’m new to this. I picked up this Fosters Holly at a garden show last spring. Mostly for the root structure. I like root structure. But where do I go from here. I was thinking of just wacking it back about halfway down and developing a canopy just above the the main trunk area. But.....

i need some guidance.

 

[Yankee Dog]

So here’s my plan.

Leave the right trunk as it. Maybe trim a bit to neaten it up. Develop top canopy

cut middle trunk short. Develop bottom canopy

Cut left trunk about halfway and develop middle canopy.

 

[Srt8madness]

I like it, I think the lower you chop it the better finished product you'll end up with. I don't know anything about the species though.

You have a nice thicker lower section with some movement. You don't need much above that, those long, pencil straight shoots (trunks) will always look odd above the base. If it were me, I'd chop down almost to the main trunk*, and wire up a new leader from spring growth, with movement that flows with existing. Then can worry about branch structure. IMO only

* on your markup, I would leave the left trunk, cut back to around where the bottom of the green circle crosses it.

 

[Yankee Dog]

Thanks for the advice. I think will chop them all down t about where you suggest and see what comes of the new growth. I can always chop the other later but I can’t put them back later.