Suggestions for a Frankenstein Cypress

[AaronThomas]

Hey all...
Last year I started this cypress with a hairbrained idea of creating 3 leaders to make a flat top... not sure what I was thinking. Anyhow... only 2 took cus I broke one of the leaders during the final chop. Now I have two stick and a trunk. Wondering what some options may be. Start over... not a huge problem since I only have a year into it. Continue with sticks and see if I get a new leader. Or... make a large chop an save the leader on the right. Thinking the scar will be a bit too substantial for the last idea.
Thoughts?
Thanks for having a sense of humor!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

The chop to a single trunk could work, the scar is not too big, IF you let the next section of trunk get to over 50% of the diameter of the first segment before you chop it back. This could be over 6 feet tall for a year or two. That will heal up the big scar.

Or, you can keep it a twin trunk, and just trim off the lip on the left to make a long angled scar. That could work too.

So which do you want? Single ? or Twin sub-trunks?

Either could work.

 

[AaronThomas]

Either could work.

Thanks Leo!
I'm thinking Id like to go for the single trunk... start building the taper.
Nice to hear it wasn't a total waste...

 

[AaronThomas]

Today was the day... I bit the bullet and ended up reworking my Cypress. I'm hoping my cut is appropriate... didn't want to take it down too far. Also carved the existing callus a bit.

 

[Zach Smith]

If you don't chop that leader you're almost sure to end up with a nasty reverse taper at the top of your angled cut. Even if you do chop, it could still happen. They are powerfully top-dominant.

 

[AaronThomas]

@Zach Smith
Hey Zach... how much of the leader do you recommend leaving?

 

[Zach Smith]

@Zach Smith
Hey Zach... how much of the leader do you recommend leaving?

My rule of thumb when building leaders is to measure the diameter of the new leader at the transition point and then chop at 2-3 times that measurement. That seems to give a good visual proportion. If you do this, be prepared to remove some extra shoots that will want to grow off that chopped stub. The tree will fight you for dominance Make sure it knows who's boss!

 

[AaronThomas]

Make sure it knows who's boss

Lol thanks for the reply Zach! I’m on it!

 

[Zach Smith]

Lol thanks for the reply Zach! I’m on it!

Yes, I have fought that fight myself. I have a lot of fun, not sure what the trees think about it.