Southern Hackberry (Celtis laevigata) - Groundlayer & Trunk Chop

[zeejet]

Context: I picked up a decently sized Southern Hackberry (Celtis laevigata) last summer with a trunk that measures ~2 feet tall and 2 inches diameter thickness. I posted about this tree in the beginner forum last year when I was overeager to airlayer the top to try and salvage another tree from this, but my priorities have changed.

It was a bit sparse and was in a relatively small training pot so I slip-potted to a 15" Anderson flat - it recovered well and looked healthy by the end of the growing season. It dropped leaves by end of December last year. Right now, I need to address both the sparse nebari (only 2 very large surface roots and a large wound where a third large surface root was previously) and the disorganized top growth (inverse taper, poor branch placement and gnarly wound). Basically starting from scratch with a decent trunk.

Question: Should I trunk chop and reset the top growth first, or groundlayer to reset and get the nebari going first. I imagine that doing both is risky, even for a hardy Celtis trees. My instinct is telling me that the roots will take longer to develop than establishing trunk taper and primary branch structure. Also, can I trunk chop and separate the groundlayer in the same season next year? If not, this would delay the trunk chop by 2 years.

Any insight would be appreciated!

Here is what it looked like after recovering in the larger container:

 

[Gabler]

I would recommend building the tree from the bottom up.

Also, I wouldn't rule out an air layer of the top, once it's more established.

 

[zeejet]

I would recommend building the tree from the bottom up.

Also, I wouldn't rule out an air layer of the top, once it's more established.

So if this is the case, my plan would be to allow the tree to leaf out, then groundlayer in late spring. The next year, I would separate the airlayer and trunk chop? Or will the trunk chop need to wait another year after separating and allowing new roots to establish further?

 

[Gabler]

So if this is the case, my plan would be to allow the tree to leaf out, then groundlayer in late spring. The next year, I would separate the airlayer and trunk chop? Or will the trunk chop need to wait another year after separating and allowing new roots to establish further?

I would separate the air layer and trunk chop at the same time.