American hornbeam. To twin, or not to twin.

[The Barber]

This American hornbeam was collected spring 2025. I generally leave more trunk than I plan on keeping so that I can cut back, and carve between a new leader and another branch. The right trunk is too straight, not sure if I want to chop the right trunk back to a low branch and regrow movement and keep it as a twin trunk, or just go single trunk.

 

[99 Mile Creek]

I would go for the double trunk, personally. There is a tree in my neighborhood that I always look for when pulling in, and it has that same curve at the base between the two. I absolutely love it.

While that's subjective, objectively, you can always cut the second trunk if it's not developing into what you like.

Very nice yamadori.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I was going to say "double trunk with a ground layer" but I am going to change my vote to single trunk.

You have two issues
(1) The trunk union is too high above the soil level, so you would need to ground layer the tree to get a root spread closer to the union.
(2) There isn't enough difference in trunk diameter between the two trunks, and the void space is too tight. I would almost think it would be easier to remove the second trunk, and then hope for a sucker to spring up, or graft a new trunk - one that is much smaller and that you could wire to complement your primary trunk - and accomplish more in less time than wrestle with that current secondary trunk.

 

[The Barber]

Well, I chopped it back to see what better proportions would do for it guys. Can always remove the second trunk later. Honestly I'm not sure I even mind that the junction of the trunks is that high now, though I still may end up removing that second trunk.

Here is the front I do believe.

 

[The Barber]

I also played with AI just because.

 

[bwaynef]

I think if you remove the smaller trunk, you're going to lose the roots on that side which likely means that that wound won't heal.

 

[The Barber]

I think if you remove the smaller trunk, you're going to lose the roots on that side which likely means that that wound won't heal.

That's what I'm afraid of, being that it is 2 fused trees, I'm not sure if it would kill that side off.

 

[leatherback]

Well, I chopped it back to see what better proportions would do for it guys.

Did not leave us a lot of time to see and respond

I would go for the double trunk, because of the die-back concern. Next to this, I do like the movement. I think removing the second trunk would make this too boring. But of course, the same-trunk-diameter argument stands. The high junction does not bother me too much, as there is a clear fusion-line in the trunk all the way from the ground. To me that gives optical separation.

 

[Shibui]

Like most of the others I can live with the slightly high junction between the trunks.
Space between the 2 trunks is important but changes with even small changes in viewing angle. Personally, I would have chopped the 2nd trunk just a bit lower. The current chop still closes the gap a bit toward the top. I think space that gradually opens out looks better than a space that gets narrower toward the top. Maybe continuing the long side of the V cut would help make that happen?

 

[The Barber]

Did not leave us a lot of time to see and respond

I would go for the double trunk, because of the die-back concern. Next to this, I do like the movement. I think removing the second trunk would make this too boring. But of course, the same-trunk-diameter argument stands. The high junction does not bother me too much, as there is a clear fusion-line in the trunk all the way from the ground. To me that gives optical separation.

Well, either way it was going to be cut back. I figured this gives us a better insight into what it would look like cut back to better proportions. Either way the second trunk is still optional.

 

[The Barber]

What about building it in this direction? What do you guys think? Kinda where my mind goes with it. More of a twin trunk turned more low branch.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Like the double trunk and the direction your thinking.

 

[Ruddigger]

I’d keep it. It’s a bit high, but I still like it.

 

[BobbyLane]

This a twin Hornbeam by Pavel slovak, has some similarities,
Id keep the twin in any case.

 

[Michael P]

I like your sketch--go with it. A general question: Why do we say "twin trunk" when that is exactly what we do not want?

 

[The Barber]

I like your sketch--go with it. A general question: Why do we say "twin trunk" when that is exactly what we do not want?

Dual, or double trunk would probably be more accurate, but for whatever reason twin trunk rolls off the tongue easier I guess.

 

[stubmle]

If you removed the second trunk entirely and made a hollow where it was, that might look interesting. I see trees like that all the time in the woods- twin trunks or fused trees where a trunk died and rotted away. Sometimes you even see other trees growing out of the hollow.

No harm in leaving it as-is for now and thinking it over more... you can always take more off later.

 

[DeepSouth]

If it was possible to remove the right trunk and heal over the wound, I would do that. But in my experience with these, they tend to not roll over large wounds very well unless there is a very prolific branch right above the wound.

I would try to cut the right side fairly short and regrow to counteract the lack of movement on the right.