Collected cedar elm... should I chop it back to the first vertical branch?

[Chris Frechette]

I collected this tree yesterday. I cut it back to a vertical leader, but as I potted it, I thought about cutting it all the way back to the first vertical branch. That really on that really only leaves the left branch... but i guess that's okay cause the vertical branch has a really low branch to the right that is already growing down. This is definitely the biggest tree I've had the pressure to collect and any advice is welcome!

 

[Zach Smith]

It doesn't look like the tree has much if any taper, so cutting back to the first vertical leader won't change that. You might as well grow it as-is. It's already got branching and ramification, all you'd need to do is build the apex.

 

[theone420]

let it grow, you can always cut it. Then after it is healthy you can get a air layer off the top so it is not wasted.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Before you look at the top... always start at the bottom.

What does the nebari look like? Is there an obvious side of the nebari that is best?