JRP: Sacrifice branch reduction/transition advice

jevanlewis · May 5, 2023

Overview
I have a JRP in development with a 4’ sacrifice branch. Since I want to thicken the trunk more, I plan to keep a sacrifice branch, either the current one or others I transition to, for several more years.

Tree goals:

Trunk diameter: 3-4” (currently 2.5” at lowest point)
Height: 24-36”
Style: Informal upright

Problem Statement
Ideally, I can leave the existing sacrifice branch for longer: due to its significant foliage mass, removing/reducing now will slow down trunk widening. I have heard a rule of thumb that I should leave the existing sacrifice branch until the next sacrifice branch is 2/3 the size of the trunk. Unfortunately, my next sacrifice branch is only 1/10 to 1/5 the size of the trunk.

On the other hand, the problem with the current sacrifice branch is that where I will eventually cut it is facing forward, and therefore will leave a visible scar when viewing the tree from the front. I know that with time and proper technique, I probably can get the scar to heal over. Additionally, I am worried about bulge/inverse taper where the sacrifice branch starts if I don’t reduce/remove it this year (I would probably do an initial cutback this fall/winter, and then remove the remaining the following fall/winter).

Questions
Here are my questions for the group (other advice not related to these questions is, of course, welcome):

Should I transition away from this sacrifice branch this year?
When I transition to a new sacrifice, how many stages of reduction do you recommend?
When I transition to a new sacrifice, any advice on how/where to cut to minimize scarring and mitigate chances of bulge/inverse taper?
Regardless of when I transition to a new sacrifice, I do plan to pull several needles and cut back some branches on the sacrifice branch this year, primarily to promote more growth lower down. Can I do this reduction now, or should I wait until fall?

Here are two images that show the current sacrifice as well as the plan to transition to a new sacrifice. Please see the Additional Tree Images below to get a better understanding of the entire tree.

Future trunk (blue)
New sacrifice (red)
Existing side branches (green)
Extra branch (yellow): could be used as new leader, new sacrifice, or even side branch to replace existing side branches

Additional Tree Images
Image 1: Zoom out with view of sacrifice (the front of the tree is the direction of the sacrifice branch)

Image 2: Zoom in on the trunk from front of tree

Image 3: View from front-left

Image 4: View from front-right

Image 5: View from back

Shibui · May 6, 2023

I would slow that sacrifice down soon. I probably would have done it well before now. It is true that removing the sacrifice branch will slow trunk thickening below but makes no sense to me to have a crappy thick trunk quickly. I'd rather spend longer and get a better result.

To allow the tree to transition sap flow to the new sacrifice I'd chop the current large sacrifice right down to just leave 6-8 healthy needles or a small shoot if there is any. That should keep it alive this season but should shock the tree enough to divert sap and nutrients to the next branches which should then take off. When new shoots grow on the sacrifice remove most, just leave enough on it this summer to maintain small sap flow but not a lot of strength.

I don't know any way to minimize scarring after a reduction of this size. I have seen several recommendations but have not seen any remarkable results when I've tried them. Converting sacrifice to jin is the quickest and easiest way to disguise an old sacrifice branch.

jevanlewis · Jun 7, 2023

@Shibui Thanks for the advice. I took off 90+ percent of the sacrifice. As expected, the rest of the tree took off, and the branch that will be the next sacrifice is already the highest part of the tree.

In the fall, I will take down the original sacrifice to a peg to get started on the long process of healing the scar. What tool(s) do you like to use carve the peg? Knob cutter? Grafting/jin tools?

Shibui · Jun 8, 2023

jevanlewis said:
What tool(s) do you like to use carve the peg? Knob cutter? Grafting/jin tools?

I do not understand 'peg' Maybe I don't do it correctly. I just chop at the base so the scars can start to heal unless I want to retain some dead wood for jin in which case I usually use branch cutter to peel strips down to try to make the shape look natural.

Potawatomi13 · Jun 8, 2023

New foliage can cover scar while healing or scar can add character to tree

. Can always cut back and develop new sacrifice. Personally do this.

Maiden69 · Jun 8, 2023

Shibui said:
I do not understand 'peg'

Many ways to skin a cat... leaving a peg is a technique that Jonas, Ryan, Eric and others do. Ryan explanation in the case of the jin branch was that by making the area concave and leaving the stub the callous would roll flat instead of convex and heal faster.

Jonas