Hawthorn rechop

[WNC Bonsai]

This is a hawthorn I collected this past winter. On the left stem there are shoots low enough down that I can use for developing an apex. However on the right stem all the shoots are at the top and I really want to to cut this one back to about 1/2-2/3 its current height as it is the smaller of the two. So the question is when to chop the right stem and try to get shoots lower down? I am thinking I should wait until next spring and lop it off before bud break then and hope for new shoots. Suggestions?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I’d do it now, but I’d probably cut like this:

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Yes, I had thought about cutting it back to a single trunk but was afraid that such as drastic move so soon after collecting would kill it. That might give it a shape sort of like the Japanese apricot that is now the lead image on your website, no?

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Well this spring I did the chop although not as radical as suggested by some. I like double trunk trees so chopped it with that in mind. It put out a lot more new shoots than it did last year when I initially collected it and did the first chop. Right now I am feeding it heavily and it is responding as expected. I am just letting it grow however once this new gowth hardens off I plan to cut it back and hope to get a second flush of new side shoots. Here’s a shot of the new growth.

 

[Mike Hennigan]

Nice! Looks super healthy, I think it was smart to wait until this spring to chop back again.