Weaponman
Yamadori
Old Oak style boxwood. I am trying to get some styling advice on this old oak style boxwood I’ve had for a few years. I’m wondering if I should remove the middle trunk and just keep it to two main trunks.
I agree with this but the design options are a lot greater with that trunk gone. This is my motive for wanting it gone. I see something else in there that will take yeas to develop.I would be inclined to day yes, too. However, if you are going for the really natural look, the Walter Pall look, then you might leave it. I swear I saw an oak just like this in my neighborhood the other day. It had the giant middle shoot, and a left and right branch just like yours. The middle shoot was bigger than the other branches I believe. I'll see if I can find it again and take a photo.
Yeah, I’ll probably remove it. The biggest issue I see is that typically the central leader should be the dominant one. However, in this case, it’s much smaller and subordinate to the other two, which creates an imbalanced look.I agree with this but the design options are a lot greater with that trunk gone. This is my motive for wanting it gone. I see something else in there that will take yeas to develop.
could do.I was thinking it already wants to be a symmetrical design. If asymmetrical, then I need to reduce the side so my largest leader becomes the dominant one and high point, no?
Thats a good start, I would want to go even harder but Ive no idea how this species reacts or back buds.I would not remove the branch. As others have said, you will be left with a slingshot and a large gap. To develop the oak-feel, you need these multiple secondary trunks.
What I would do, though, is cut back hard on all of these "trunks", to chase back the foliage and get some backbudding closer inside. The primary branches have very straight lines and I think the tree will look more powerful with a smaller silhouette given the size of the base.
View attachment 475261
Where I drew the green line is where I think your tree is. The red lines are possible chop points.
I know this seems drastic, but this will result in a much nicer tree down the road. Just a suggestion.
Cory
Ok, leaving it. The red lines are pretty much where I did the first major pruning like 5 years ago. Boxwood will backbud fairly well on old wood but I think a few leaves need to be left on the branch. Will prune back again to get more growth inside. Thanks for the inputI would not remove the branch. As others have said, you will be left with a slingshot and a large gap. To develop the oak-feel, you need these multiple secondary trunks.
What I would do, though, is cut back hard on all of these "trunks", to chase back the foliage and get some backbudding closer inside. The primary branches have very straight lines and I think the tree will look more powerful with a smaller silhouette given the size of the base.
View attachment 475261
Where I drew the green line is where I think your tree is. The red lines are possible chop points.
I know this seems drastic, but this will result in a much nicer tree down the road. Just a suggestion.
Cory