CWTurner
Omono
Please see the Anti-fiddling thread
CW
CW
Already have commented lol I know I shouldn't mess with it but I'm glad I did otherwise those mealys really could have taken off.Please see the Anti-fiddling thread
CW
I was heavily advised by many people to leave them as the tree appears to be extremely stressed.I usually cut off suckers as they appear
http://www.bonsainut.com/threads/big-collected-apple.23348/#post-358507 On that thread they propose to pinch suckers...I was heavily advised by many people to leave them as the tree appears to be extremely stressed.
Aaron
I've kept up to date on that thread, the only difference is this tree is much older, larger, and hasn't budded on the trunk at all yet. So my worry is if I remove all the suckers, it'll just flush more suckers and steal even more energy from the main trunk. That's why I like the idea of an approach graft, if it'll take.http://www.bonsainut.com/threads/big-collected-apple.23348/#post-358507 On that thread they propose to pinch suckers...
http://www.bonsainut.com/threads/big-collected-apple.23348/#post-358507 On that thread they propose to pinch suckers...
Looks like I may need to just leave it alone still. I have a few apples that are 2 yeas old so they have a woody stem but they are short and I'd have to devise a way to support the small pot while I attempt the graft.You can't always apply the same technique to a different tree, even if it's the same species. Every tree tells you different things. This tree has no buds on the trunk, cutting/pinching the sucker on this one will most likely kill or stress the roots more then they already are.
If you do a approach graft- you need to use a different sapling or another tree and is vigorous. Though you will get different foliage if it's a different variety. IF you try it with those sucker, be careful, it's harder to do it with vegetative growth, and I honestly wouldn't do it on this tree. As the new growth is fragile and can just wither away above the graft.
I chopped it around 26" tall for that reason, I was hoping it would bud ANYWHERE in the trunk. Plus this was how big it had to be to fit in my car.Also for the future - tree's that are weaker like hornbeam,beech etc... or like this tree(even though it's a hardy apple) because of the dead section on the trunk. I tend to collect yamadori with more truck then's needed(IE a cut further up the trunk line). This may set you back a year if you need to rechop, BUT you have a better chance of buds popping and then you can work on getting them where you want. Kinda something that come with time doing this and being able to look at the tree and "seeing" whats needed.
My thoughts, too. A successful approach graft requires active growth of both the stock and the scion and will only work if you've got growth above the area on the stock to be grafted. As far as pinching back the suckers, I guess I'd leave it alone. The trunk will either push buds or it won't.I don't think a graft will work. You have nothing up top growing now.
Personally I would toss it. I think it's done to tell the truth.
Hornbeams are weak? I've chopped the roots close to the base on most of the ones I collected this year even well after leaf out due to the high temps we had up here early spring, all 7 of them budded out all over, not super fast but they are growing. My biggest was 4 1/4- 4 1/2 inch trunk. Bonsai-south chops the roots much closer than I do. Hophornbeams are a bit diff.....my 2 1/2 inch trunk didn't bud out this year after being collected in the fall.Also for the future - tree's that are weaker like hornbeam,beech etc... or like this tree(even though it's a hardy apple) because of the dead section on the trunk. I tend to collect yamadori with more truck then's needed(IE a cut further up the trunk line). This may set you back a year if you need to rechop, BUT you have a better chance of buds popping and then you can work on getting them where you want. Kinda something that come with time doing this and being able to look at the tree and "seeing" whats needed.
I gave up on hornbeam. For now. The problem with them is they grow pretty slow and if there are no low branches you will be waiting forever for new leads to get to a big enough size to cut back again. If you have one with a 4 inch trunk and it has no branches low to use for a new trunk line you might want to pack a lunch. You're going to be there a while waiting for one to grow to size. Not just a few years but like a decade.Hornbeams are weak? I've chopped the roots close to the base on most of the ones I collected this year even well after leaf out due to the high temps we had up here early spring, all 7 of them budded out all over, not super fast but they are growing. My biggest was 4 1/4- 4 1/2 inch trunk. Bonsai-south chops the roots much closer than I do. Hophornbeams are a bit diff.....my 2 1/2 inch trunk didn't bud out this year after being collected in the fall.Wouldn't it be more stress on the tree to have to rechop again next year when you have branches/buds than when you have a clean chop?