Kwanzan cherry questions

[Bs2]

While looking around Home Depot, I saw a beautiful kwanzan cherry already at the perfect thickness for it's first trunk chop, and would like to field grow it, though I'd like to have a couple questions answered before I commit to buying it.
1. While I know the tree needs root-work, to be planted, and the trunk chop, I don't know WHEN I should do those important steps.
2. How low can I get away with chopping? Considering it's nursery stock, the trunk is as tall and straight as can be and needs desperate correction.

 

[ralfish]

While looking around Home Depot, I saw a beautiful kwanzan cherry already at the perfect thickness for it's first trunk chop, and would like to field grow it, though I'd like to have a couple questions answered before I commit to buying it.
1. While I know the tree needs root-work, to be planted, and the trunk chop, I don't know WHEN I should do those important steps.
2. How low can I get away with chopping? Considering it's nursery stock, the trunk is as tall and straight as can be and needs desperate correction.

If its the standard, broom stick however tall, with a bunch of branches all coming out at the same place more or less, its quite likely grafted there. The trunk is often also a graft, meaning root grafted. If thats the case, then Im not sure a chop is going to be useful. It will send out a lot of sucker growth competing with the grafted bits. Maybe air layer some of the branches above the top graft. Several of these trees were planted near my place a couple of years ago, and of course zero maintenance and a couple of them have suckers already over taking the grafted flowering bits. Ive taken some cuttings to see if I can get them to root and also Ive done a bit of scion grafting (today) onto plum rootstock.

 

[Bs2]

My research also warned me about grafting, so I checked for it first and couldn't find any signs of it on any of the kwanzans, though I'll post some pictures of the tree I want later for a second opinion. Where exactly should I focus my attention to find a graft?

 

[ABCarve]

My research also warned me about grafting, so I checked for it first and couldn't find any signs of it on any of the kwanzans, though I'll post some pictures of the tree I want later for a second opinion. Where exactly should I focus my attention to find a graft?

Not all Kwansans are grafted. Mine is not grafted and was grown as a seedling from the Arbor Day give-aways. Many graft are quite good and are hard to spot, but you can look for a change in bark color/texture (especially when the tree is wet) or an unusual swelling in the trunk. Kwansans can be a challenge as bonsai. Their leaves are fairly large, don't reduce well and the growth is quite coarse. If there are no vegetative buds behind or adjacent to the flower bud the branch will probably die back. Sometime they will put out a last minute adventitious bud to save the branch. Below is a thread about mine which may be helpful.

Thread 'Chainsaw Kwanzan Cherry'

Mar 21, 2020

This is the story of a tree that I created a mislabeled thread for back in 2016. There, it was referred to as Yashino Cherry, misidentified and misspelled. So for search purposes and some brevity, I'm re-posting.
This cherry fell victim to two nasty winters in a row...2014 & 2015, the infamous poplar vortex. The top was completely dead, but a few suckers had formed around the base. I just wanted to remove the tree and make way for some ornamental grasses. In 2016, after cutting it down, to loosen it up I went around the roots with the saws-all, then proceeded to yank it...

• ABCarve

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[Bs2]

Think I found the graft.

 

[ralfish]

Think I found the graft.
View attachment 588314

as mentioned in my earlier response, the graft is at the base of the broom stick, the roots, and at the top of the broomstick where all the branches come out. The grafted bits are the flowering parts. In the first pic below you can see the graft where allof the flowering branches come out. Notice the different colour and texture of the bark from the broomstick part of the trunk. To the right is a sucker growing from the broomstick, it will overtake the grafted upper flowering parts quite quickly if not removed. In the second pic to the right, the flowering grafted bits are in the middle of two suckers. Again, notice the change of colour and texture of the grafted bits compared to the broom stick trunk and two suckers growing on either side. Both suckers should be removed as they already are over growing the grafted flowering parts.

 

[Bs2]

Then the tree might not be grafted, as I see no signs anywhere

 

[ralfish]

show a picture of the top part similar to the pics i posted

 

[Bs2]

I took a picture, but the site says it's too large. Also, the tree is a formal horrifying, not a broom stick

 

[Bs2]

I took a picture, but the site says it's too large. Also, the tree is a formal horrifying, not a broom stick

*upright

 

[Bs2]

I think they grafted EVERY SINGLE BRANCH! WHY?

 

[Gabler]

I think they grafted EVERY SINGLE BRANCH! WHY?
View attachment 588537

That's the branch collar, not a graft union.