Recommendation for maple air layer

[bray]

I have air layered a green J maple main trunk that I believe has produced enough roots for separation. The plan for the air layer is to trunk chop at an existing side branch allowing the side branch to be the new leader. Above the location of the future trunk chop there is quite a bit of foliage.
My question is, when I separate the layer do I complete the trunk chop at the same time to lighten the load on the new roots or leave the chop till wintertime to allow the foliage to drive root production this fall? Probably neither answer is wrong, but one may make for a stronger tree. I see reasons for either plan.
What would you do?
Thanks

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Leave the foliage. Don't forget - all of that terminal growth is generating auxin and signalling your air-layer to continue to produce roots - whether the air-layer is connected to the tree or not. If you are worried about too much foliage, protect the foliage - ie put beneath shade cloth or place the tree temporarily in bright indirect lighting (out of direct sun).

And don't forget - when you separate the air-layer, seal the bottom of your new tree. Do not just stick it in soil with a raw exposed wound in contact with the soil, which can lead to fungal issues (in maples particularly).

 

[bray]

Thanks for the feedback. I will do all the above.
On another note, I need to look at the tree again today but during watering yesterday with no time to look at it more, it seemed that several of the branches have turned upside down recently. The bottom of the leaves are up not down. It was a couple of long branches and maybe the branch twisted as it was drug down from the weight. I need to look at it again but is this twisting possible or is there another reason. It seems I have read about this before in my many hours of reading the archives of this forum.
Anyone ever experienced this in J maples?

 

[bray]

Upon further review the leaf petiole at the connection to the leaf has curled to the point the leaf is showing most of its underside to the top. This just appears to be on a couple branches and the leaves themselves look fine.
For more information: I did have an issue with a watering system while I was away the last week of July for 10 days. Completely my fault, and it looks like with only two possible minor losses. This tree looked OK when I returned and overall, the tree looks good. Maybe this is a symptom of that event.