Yeah I think it has good bones the trunk is really cool! Can't complain for 17$ ha. The only problem that I have is the trunk bulges outward near the right side of the trunk. I trimmed a lot today to reveal the beautiful tree underneath. That is what I ended up with. Would it be bad in a few years to just take a saw to that bulge? Just to help the taper.
Sorry missed this!
My main question is, how should I be pruning this (if at all) to keep growing the trunk but without letting the tree grow wild. If I am supposed to grow it wild let me know.
From the train....
But I figured you should Have it in your thread...
Here's what I'd do......
Madden
For me...
Everything rides on that twisted trunk.
Feature!
Right now your heavy branches are higher...
Flipflopped...
Rather than try to fix the bulge, and correct the branch sizing.....
Future tree is green line.
Of course...I'm counting on a new bud for that first right branch. But even without it...you can still build your whole tree off that top Fork.
Since that fork is important for the future design...
I'd cut it back to two at the red line around before August...
And THATS IT FOR CUTTING THIS YEAR!
So Since that low branch..and everything above the bulge is sacrifice...
Wire it (any way!) behind the yellow to allow light to the Future keeper tree.
Consider removing the light blue section first (2018-2019) to allow room for your Future tree...and to keep some sacrifice.
You could more slowly remove one branch a year till gone. (leave one inch stubs to prevent dieback!)(oops already!)
The low branch could remain indefinitely...for health...and A safety plan B!
That lil bud at the arrow...
Inside of curve..
Pluck it!
FYI...you're not doing anything in spring!
I would only repot next year aFter fathers day.
Health dependent, maybe lop an above the bulge branch.
If you can do more at that time, Vance will advise.
Extra thought....
We keep stubs on for a year before cutting flush...to keep the trunk from dying all the way down to the root that fed it.
A sap detour if you will.
Fake it into pushing sap there still, till the routes around the collar are reestablished.
That said....the ponder....
Had you left stubs, you could probly have repotted this year...
But since some of your roots are now in a state of limbo, considering wether or not they are necessary to support the tree, I would wait.
I don't want to say "compromised"...
That's more reserved for root rot...
But...
The roots are "thinking" about what to do...
And anymore tinkering get to stinkering the thinking.
Love the twist!
Grown right..
That's a Friggin $ feature!
Wal-Mart!
Score!
Sorce