Need advice on A. palm. 'Novum' - awkward nursery material - multiple trunk lines all bending in one direction

[zeejet]

I received a JM (A. palmatum ‘Novum’. a vigorous-growing cultivar) from Evergreen Gardenworks last month and repotted it from a 4” pot to a gallon pot.

It’s still in the growing phase but I’m not sure what to do with this tree this season to set it up for success long term. It has a short trunk with 3 possible trunk lines, each coming from the same point, so I’m not sure if I keep all three. I don’t think it’s suitable for clump-style, but maybe I’m wrong?

In my unqualified beginner's intuition, I am thinking of air layering the right trunk for a second tree and keeping the other two together - I could either develop it as a double trunk or use one of the trunks as a sacrifice branch for trunk/taper development. Should I wire anything? What can I do about the awkward movement?

I’d appreciate a more experienced take on what the options are here and if I should wait another season before working on this stock material. It’s only about ½” in trunk caliper.

 

[BrianBay9]

I would take off the thickest of the three, keep the other two and grow them out. An air layer is possible.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

What’s going on here? it looks like a fungal or viral condition. If this is the only trunk showing it, I’d remove it.

 

[zeejet]

I would take off the thickest of the three, keep the other two and grow them out. An air layer is possible.

Would this be a good idea for this current season? I'm assuming late spring/early summer are good times for airlayer and eventual removal of the thickest trunk.

 

[zeejet]

What’s going on here? it looks like a fungal or viral condition. If this is the only trunk showing it, I’d remove it.
View attachment 531802

Not sure - I thought this was a feature of the tree, but maybe it's canker? Hoping it's just stress from the repot, but I could be wrong.

 

[BrianBay9]

What’s going on here? it looks like a fungal or viral condition. If this is the only trunk showing it, I’d remove it.
View attachment 531802

As it turns out, that's the thickest one and the one I'd remove too. Maybe don't air layer it.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Not sure - I thought this was a feature of the tree, but maybe it's canker? Hoping it's just stress from the repot, but I could be wrong.

That’s not stress from the repot, that would manifest in wilting leaves. Look into Pseudomonas or Verticillium wilt. I’d remove it like now.