Ginkgo - where to chop?

[Cadillactaste]

That is the point I was going to bring up. What I know of ginkgo is that it is very slow to heal over larger cuts. SOmething to keep in mind going forward. More frequent smaller cuts will slow the growth right down, but will also reduce the scarsizes.

I think Scott Lee did an amazing job with the movement he put into the trunk. The scar, honestly doesn't bother me. It's the back of the tree. The front... is better overall due to the chop. That he thought it through making the back as such. Shows his experience in creating the material he creates. He's got some amazing material he sells.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Is that considered common practice with gingko? My fiancee likes the leaves so I have a stick in a box, but I haven't really been able to glean what exactly I'm supposed to do with it other than leave it alone, given that cut scars are apparently permanent.

I recon you will have scars. If you chop for movement.I would consider seriously the chosen front and cut so they would be for the most part hidden from view by the angle you make as the cut. I even prune with that in mind. Keeping the cut toward the back. They heal over slow. Many have taller lanky ginkgo as well. I know two others with scars like my own. I'm not sure about @Brian Van Fleet ...and what his back side of his ginkgo looks like. @MACH5 has a beast of a Ginkgo...really old looking. I'm not sure what his back looks like either. Brian grew his from seed. I do know that. I know one guy William who has a lovely clump. Less thick trunks and more narrow trunks. He may not have the trunk chop with that style. But Scott Lee...knew what he was doing with mine. The scar...didn't even make me pause. It's the back of the tree.

 

[whofeelsitknowsit]

I agree - it doesn’t bother me. I just wanted to see what it looked like.

 

[whofeelsitknowsit]

I just picked them up. I was mistaken - that lowest branch is popping out of the ground, so it will have to be removed. These might be better pics:

This is the other one, which is way more interesting and which I’d also love to hear suggestions for:

 

[whofeelsitknowsit]

Any thoughts?

 

[leatherback]

I would probably chop just below the fork

 

[Cadillactaste]

This one...how tall is it, trunk to the branches? Looks to be a nice tree.

 

[whofeelsitknowsit]

This one...how tall is it, trunk to the branches? Looks to be a nice tree.
View attachment 359002

It’s a little over 8” from soil to where the trunk splits. 5” wide at the base but the trunk quickly tapers to 1.5”.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I would look to make a nice shape from the canopy and call it done to be honest. It has a nice look to it.

 

[whofeelsitknowsit]

Do you think so? I guess there are three options: do that (which is probably what I’ll do, at least for now to see what happens), clip just above the split but keep the two, or chop below the split.

Also, should I remove the shoots growing out of the base/roots?

 

[Cadillactaste]

It takes a long time to develop a ginkgo. They aren't favorable to offer branching. That needs taken into consideration.

I would see it in leaf...and reevaluate. Can they be worked into the style to enhance...or do they distract? Something worth chewing over. You make sure whatever you do...its a direction you personally see as your own.

 

[whofeelsitknowsit]

It takes a long time to develop a ginkgo. They aren't favorable to offer branching. That needs taken into consideration.

I would see it in leaf...and reevaluate. Can they be worked into the style to enhance...or do they distract? Something worth chewing over. You make sure whatever you do...its a direction you personally see as your own.

You are wise

 

[Cadillactaste]

You are wise

Well, I think the one just has potential as is for the most part with tweaking. (But it should always ring true to the owner of the tree to follow a direction they feel is theirs. ) Finding a shape in the canopy.

The other one...that's up to you. Do you want two ginkgo? It will be a project...long term. Or...you could keep it as a potted tree and enjoy it as it stands...or sink it into the ground for a garden tree...or development with a chop. If you chop it...I would develop it in the ground. It would develop quicker that way. My own tree was developed for the most part being in the ground. But that one...for sure has potential for being something. In a short amount of time.

End of the day...its your journey. Enjoy it.

 

[whofeelsitknowsit]

Where would you prune the canopy to develop it? Prune back to one or two buds on each branch?

 

[Cadillactaste]

First you decide on a front. And no...not necessarily.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Go back and look at my ginkgo out of leaf. Scott kept a shape overall...and I've developed it from there then cutting back to an internode. Keeping a shape to the tree the entire time.

 

[whofeelsitknowsit]

Okay, sorry for all the questions - I am just very nervous about messing this up. I have been growing this tree out for like 10 years, and it's my most promising material (not that I have very much). I think the trunk is too thin to keep the tree at its current height and shape. The proportions don't look right to me. Here is what I am thinking:

Thoughts? This feels like the front to me. I plan to repot and do root work and then prune right before the buds break, which is probably still a month away here.

I'm also not sure what to do with those suckers, but I might let them run for now.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

What about this? Reduce the high split to one trunk, chop is at the back. shorten remaining trunk to show a bit of taper.
Remove 2 suckers, shorten one in case you want a second trunk later.

 

[Pj86]

What about this? Reduce the high split to one trunk, chop is at the back. shorten remaining trunk to show a bit of taper.
Remove 2 suckers, shorten one in case you want a second trunk later.
View attachment 359695

From previous pictures, I believe the suckers are below the graft line of the main trunk. Might lead to extremely different looking leaves.

 

[whofeelsitknowsit]

I could definitely be mistaken, but I don't believe this is grafted. I've had it for maybe 15 years now, neglected on my parents patio for the last 5 or 6.