Victrinia Ensor
Omono
Actually...the soil is quick draining...like fine compost mulch. Doing a chop now...would mean to lose the top...which I had hoped to play around with. Would prefer an air layer. The top of this tree is pretty.
A root ball reduction when it's getting colder here... I thought that was done when a tree was pushing new growth...or am I mistaken,and you mean come spring?
Your agreeing though...to chop and make the leader my desired literati movement form then.
Chop late fall... repot early spring.
Or... if you want to airlayer. Just know getting airlayers off of cooler county conifers is tough... but trying won't hurt. It generally takes a couple of years to get them to take though... so be patient.
V