Help pick a trunk line on my Amur

[Projcinco21]

Hello all
Been creeping on all your posts now for more than a year and really have enjoyed reading and learning from all of you. Haven’t posted anything as I feel like my trees and I are really not at most of your guy’s/gal’s level.
Today I come to ask for help on deciding a trunk line on my little Amur maple.
I picked this up from San Gabriel Nursery, which is about 1/2 hour east of Los Angeles (where I live), about six months ago.
Repotted it about 3 weeks ago and now the buds are starting to burst.
I’ve decided that it would look better as a single trunk instead of three, because of the obvious flaws that can be seen in the posted images. Feel like my favorite line is #1.
I also wanna ask when I should start these air layers? Don’t wanna just let the other two trunks go to waste.
I will appreciate any input/advise that anyone can give me.
Thanks

Btw don’t mind the ginkgo seeds haha

 

[JosephCooper]

Line 3 has a lovely gnarled look to it that I personally enjoy a lot.

 

[Chris Frechette]

3 has some wow factor for sure. 1 is nice too. They both have long straight sections in their top halves that you’d probably want to address later

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Tieball]

I’m going with @sorce
I like 1 but chopped shorter like shown. I think this line has excellent potential. My reasoning....Once you go above that chop point @sorce indicated there’s very little taper....more like a single thickness all the way for quite a ways up. I’d shorten and begin to build progressively shorter sections increasing the taper. Two or three sections should complete the image. I think with this you’ll end up with a more powerful looking trunk.
And, my chop would be at the lower Green color line.

 

[ConorDash]

Agree with @sorce . Good looking, tapered trunk, interesting shape, chopping it at that line.

Could air layer it but.. I’m not too sure the top half is worth keeping. It’s got some movement but it’s very thin and taperless. Also air layering will delay your progress with the tree for a number of months, but I guess it’d be done by summer.

 

[Clicio]

Feel like my favorite line is #1.

I like n# 3 very much!
But...
You can keep them all!

 

[Cadillactaste]

Chopped as @sorce mentioned. Would offer ones imagination a thicker trunk if a shorter stature tree.


But, that said... #3 has some great funky character...that even without taper...could be pulled off if one wasn't up for a chop that drastically. (I would ask for the same angle...straight on verses looking slightly down on it. To see if it still offers movement.)

 

[JudyB]

1 has the best taper, and 3 has the best movement. I think both are good places to start. Amur like to grow straight, so I'd say that 3 is the most interesting as most amur don't have good movement. But like they said, you can have them all, right?
Now go and put your location in your profile so we all know where on earth you are.

 

[sorce]

location

Austin Texas!

Sorce

 

[Projcinco21]

Thank you all. Seems like the votes are leaning towards #1.
And yes, I agree, the top of all three are too straight.
Excited and hopeful to see what comes out of these little guys. Especially that #1.

@sorce always with that dry humor ???

 

[sorce]

@sorce always with that dry humor

The rainbow or the 521 guess?

That aint funny!

Sorce