Multi level flat top raintree

[c54fun]

Thought I would start another thread for this tree. Fredman sugested a multi level flat top for my smaller raintree. Sounded like a good idea. Will take several years to start looking full but should be pretty cool looking.
What it looked like when I got it. Leaves were gone from a very long ship time. They sent the wrong plant the first time then finally sent this one.


Little trim and wire just to separate the branches a little.

Filling out fast.

Rough trim for flatop.

Wired and ready to grow.

 

[fredman]

Good luck with that. I'm bouncing around with excitement here. First multi flat top I've seen on here....albeit a baby
You're a pioneer man

 

[SumatraDave]

Investing in this

 

[c54fun]

Couple of new pictures. Growth has slowed this time of year but although it looks shaggy the inter nodes and the branches are in great spots. Been clipping the new growth that is not in a good spot. Will let it grow out more to make re wiring a little easier. Next re wire will make the pads nice and flat and much fuller. Tree looks healthy. Another 3 years and it should look great. Doesn't look that good now. Each time I wire it should look better and better. Also been clipping the terminal bud when the branch reaches the length I want. This really helps keeping the internodes small.

 

[JudyB]

Just make sure you keep the top in check, or it will get out of proportion quickly. Looking good.

 

[LanceMac10]

Cut back to the first viable node(accounting for die-back, keep it as far above that one as possible) on those long shoots on top with the HUGE thorns. They are getting too strong and shading lower growth out.

I'm not sold on the telephone pole straight lowest branch, though.....

Ain't these fun?!?!

 

[c54fun]

Cut back to the first viable node(accounting for die-back, keep it as far above that one as possible) on those long shoots on top with the HUGE thorns. They are getting too strong and shading lower growth out.

I'm not sold on the telephone pole straight lowest branch, though.....

Ain't these fun?!?!

Getting to long and shading the lower is what I want. It causes the other pads to grow out. If I cut the entire top off the lower pads would grow up instead of out. I have learned this on my other tree. When the top gets wider and wider the lower pad would grow out. After I trimmed back the top the lower pads would grow upwards. At this point I want the pads to grow out. The problem is that the top wants to grow up and out so its a continually struggle to cut the upwards and keep the side growing growth.

This picture of my other tree shows the top and bottom competing to go out to get sun. You cant hardly see the different levels. This method worked good on my bigger tree and I'm already seeing the same effect on the small one.

As far as cutting to the first node I wait until the new branch is going the direction I want and when it is about 2 inches to long I snip the terminal bud/leaf off. It then thicken up and makes wiring easy. The extra length is taken up by wiring an s shape.

 

[Lobaeux]

I like it! I'm having the same issue with mine. It wants to grow up and not out. A continuous struggle, but fun.

 

[c54fun]

Checked on the tree yesterday and the wire was digging into the tree bad. Grew faster than I thought it would. Removed the wire that was to tight. Took a few pictures and trimmed a little. Will let it grow for a while then re wire again later.

 

[Lobaeux]

Great pics, the tree is coming along beautifully.

 

[c54fun]

Great pics, the tree is coming along beautifully.

Thanks, next spring and summer should grow a bunch. Plan on putting it into slightly bigger pots each spring also.

 

[Lobaeux]

Reporting both mine as well. Should grow quite a bit.
My planted BRT is getting ridiculous and unfortunately I had to cut it back a bit, it was growing over into the driveway.
Do you have an idea on what type of pot you're going to use?

 

[c54fun]

Reporting both mine as well. Should grow quite a bit.
My planted BRT is getting ridiculous and unfortunately I had to cut it back a bit, it was growing over into the driveway.
Do you have an idea on what type of pot you're going to use?

Probably use these two pots.


Couple other pots.

 

[Lobaeux]

Really like that round pot in pic#4 with the tree.

 

[c54fun]

Not sure which pot to use. I have several more. Need to lay them out and figure out which will go to what this spring.

 

[JudyB]

I've found that shallow and wide is the nicest look for these, as the trunks are not big enough to look good in a deep pot. (unless you have a honker...)

 

[c54fun]

100% agree.

 

[c54fun]

Trimmed and put the tree into a training pot. Will keep increasing the size of pot each year. Its growing pretty fast.

 

[c54fun]

Did some more work on this little tree. It is starting to shape up now.
Before I started.

 

[Lobaeux]

Very interesting! I like the multi-levels.