Triumph Elm

[Maloghurst]

I just have a question about developing deciduous trees. This tree is at the absolute beginning. It will eventually be chopped much lower and maybe air layer the top.
On prolific backbudding trees like this should I (as a general rule) immediately get rid of all but one branch in these groups? I know they tend to develop a knob where they come out.

 

[defra]

I would do that !

 

[jeremy_norbury]

My advice is to airlayer the top before chopping.

 

[sorce]

as a general rule)

I think earth has a general rule that says....

As soon as they remove all them branches save one.....

Send a bird or a gust to break the last one!

Which is to say...
You can...
But you must be either wholly careful...
Or not care at all!

Sorce

 

[ConorDash]

My advice is to airlayer the top before chopping.

I was thinking the same thing lol..

Those shoots are super delicate. Maybe thin them out a bit, remove some but leave 30-50% and let them get stronger.. bulges will develop that quickly so it's not a problem.

 

[rockm]

I'd also be vigilant with this tree. The back of it looks to be dead...Hard to tell if any buds are pushing though that darker area with the scaly bark...

 

[Maloghurst]

I'll post some more pics from all around. The chop was done when I bought it in November. It's about 36 inches tall right now. I had to a chop just to get it home. The chop is just out of the pic. But when it is recovered I will air layer first.
Thank rockm. I did notice that no buds were on that side for awhile but I believe some have come out since then. I check tomorrow.

 

[Maloghurst]

I'd also be vigilant with this tree. The back of it looks to be dead...Hard to tell if any buds are pushing though that darker area with the scaly bark...

So maybe just leave everything until I know it's recovered fully?

 

[discusmike]

If it is dead you might ss well chop below the dead n regrow with taper,at the appropriate time

 

[ConorDash]

I'd also be vigilant with this tree. The back of it looks to be dead...Hard to tell if any buds are pushing though that darker area with the scaly bark...

Oh yeah that's quite interesting. I didn't notice that till you pointed it out, now it's all I can see.
I'd maybe bet the reason for such vigorous growth in those buds is because it's pushing the full energy of the tree, through half the buds cos other side is dead?

 

[rockm]

Oh yeah that's quite interesting. I didn't notice that till you pointed it out, now it's all I can see.
I'd maybe bet the reason for such vigorous growth in those buds is because it's pushing the full energy of the tree, through half the buds cos other side is dead?

Maybe, maybe not. It's hard to tell if there are any buds on that side from the photo. The different color and the boundary with this side of the tree look strange to me. Might just be the way it is...

 

[Maloghurst]

I was concerned originally when I saw that all the buds were on one side and I though maybe the other side wasn't getting enough sun. Some weaker buds started on the othe side, lower down. You might be right the top half of that side my have died back.
I chopped it as high as I did so if I had die back I would be safe. Looks like it was a good move.
Eventually it would chopped below those buds anyway. The trunk is about 4" across at the base

 

[Maloghurst]

Maybe, maybe not. It's hard to tell if there are any buds on that side from the photo. The different color and the boundary with this side of the tree look strange to me. Might just be the way it is...

Thanks for pointing that out, saves me the trouble of an air layer if nothing grows on that upper section.

 

[rockm]

All those buds clusted at the bottom of the darker portion are not a good sign. That further supports my idea that the large section above is dead -- between the buds higher up. A tight cluster down at the bottom with none above indicates the auxins that set off new buds aren't moving up the trunk. That means D-E-A-D.

 

[Maloghurst]

It appears to be live up to about 1/3 up yes? Maybe I should pinch all shoots higher up on the live side to redirect the energy to just the lower portion. You do see the buds on the "dead side" above the bottom cluster yes?

 

[rockm]

It appears to be live up to about 1/3 up yes? Maybe I should pinch all shoots higher up on the live side to redirect the energy to just the lower portion. You do see the buds on the "dead side" above the bottom cluster yes?

I would stop screwing around with it. There is a significant portion of the trunk that has died back. Messing around with the new growth could make that problem worse.

 

[rockm]

BTW, that long section above the lowest cluster of buds is probably dead to the top. Don't know exactly how wide that dead strip is, but I'd bet it is as wide as the set of buds halfway up on the right and left of it.

 

[rockm]

It appears to be live up to about 1/3 up yes? Maybe I should pinch all shoots higher up on the live side to redirect the energy to just the lower portion. You do see the buds on the "dead side" above the bottom cluster yes?

You will not "redirect growth" by removing upper buds. You will further weaken the tree. Those new leaves are taking energy to produce and not, as yet, replacing it. Leaves are not functional until they "harden off" and mature. That is weeks away with these. Remove enough leaves at this point and you run the risk of killing off the new roots.

 

[M. Frary]

I would have chopped it low the first time.

 

[Waltron]

you should probably stop messing with it, but now im curious...how about a scratch test? got green cambium anywhere in the questionable area?