Chop to develop apex?

[Jrmcmich]

European hornbeam

Wondering if I should chop at red line to develop next section of apex? Hard to know how much thicker I should let it get or if I go ahead and chop and blue line would be new leader. Also thoughts on air layering top before doing chop or if that’s a good idea or not. Decent start above for another smaller start of tree and top is easily 36” above this red line as I’ve been growing out last 2 seasons. Downside is this chop will leave a scar to heal on front of tree so another reason not wanting to wait longer than necessary.

Any ideas or thoughts?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Seems ok to me. Definitely do not want any more caliber in that section.

Would skip t(e air layer and devote all effort into developing the lower section into a decent bonsai.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Potawatomi13]

Cut back to branch below the former chop.

 

[Shibui]

Definitely time to chop again. More growth next season will help boost healing of the previous chop and add a little more thickness to the rest of the trunk.
Assuming that first pic is somewhere close to the proposed front that cut should be mostly hidden.

 

[BobbyLane]

I would yes.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Thanks for the comments and reassurance as I was thinking time but wanted other opinions. I will forgo the air layer as DSD mentioned not my primary purpose.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Cut back to branch below the former chop.

I did think about this before

 

[Jrmcmich]

Well deed is done. Amazing how much shorter tree is now took picture before I put Cut paste on it.

 

[Adamski77]

chop looks good... tree will get more proportions. Are these lowest branches the "bar branches"? ... if yes, there is a possibility of swelling in this place so something to watch...

 

[BobbyLane]

Could definitely get it more flush on a hornbeam in the growing season, its not a maple. I just cut them close to the leader.

Re height. If that's the leader on right, its already as long as the tree was tall before.
Beech I chopped a few weeks ago and another before that.

Callus rolling in on near enough flush cuts made in spring. Get the ball rolling.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Could definitely get it more flush on a hornbeam in the growing season, its not a maple. I just cut them close to the leader.

Re height. If that's the leader on right, its already as long as the tree was tall before.
Beech I chopped a few weeks ago and another before that.

Callus rolling in on near enough flush cuts made in spring. Get the ball rolling.

Okay good to know. Wasn’t sure about potential dieback so assumed I’d have to go back next year to get closer but your right I have never seen any dieback with previous cuts.

 

[Jrmcmich]

chop looks good... tree will get more proportions. Are these lowest branches the "bar branches"? ... if yes, there is a possibility of swelling in this place so something to watch...

Those are across from each other but seemed to look relatively normal looking as a tree so I left both as I wanted to have a tree you might see in forest but agree will have to keep eye out for that