Thread graft with a guest

[bonsailevel:master]

I started this thread graft at the beginning of April on this red maple. In the first picture you can see where the grafted branch exits that a bud formed around the drilled hole and another branch has started to grow. Second pic is today, May 16th. I'm assuming the new companion branch will help heal the graft branch, but quick question. It has outgrown the graft branch and is starving it of sunlight. What to do? Leave it as is, leave it but thin out foliage or completely remove it so the thread graft gets as much sun as possible? Thanks in advance.

 

[bonsailevel:master]

Sorry, one more thing. The first picture is 180 from the rest. In the second picture I'm holding the companion branch.

 

[Shibui]

Are you absolutely committed to the thread graft? Obviously a natural branch will be much stronger and grow quicker than a grafted one, at least for the first few years. Maybe it would be better to use that new branch instead of the grafted one?
If you are committed to the graft I would certainly slow down that new shoot close by. Not only will it be taking from the grafted branch but you'll also have a new scar to heal when it does come off.
At the very least lower it below the level of your graft and/or tip it some which should reduce vigour and allow the graft to grow a bit more.
Note that thread grafts where the threaded branch is lower than the base of the grafted branch often don't grow well until they heal and get resources direct from the trunk as sap and growth hormones don't flow downward very well.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Are you absolutely committed to the thread graft? Obviously a natural branch will be much stronger and grow quicker than a grafted one,

What he said.

 

[bonsailevel:master]

The deed is done. Removed grafted branch.