Trunk chop whilst in ground?

[Aaronsbonsai]

Hello everyone,

I've been ground growing my Chinese elm for one year now, trunk is thickening nicely however has very little movement. I've planted at a 45 degree angle with the hopes to trunk chop and re route in the opposite direction for movement and taper down the line.

My question would be, do I chop at the beginning of the next growing season whilst in the ground (mid summer here in New Zealand, so next year) to allow for a new leader to grow and develop taper. Or do I continue to grow wild for the next year as I'd still like my trunk to be a bit bigger, then the year after remove from the ground, chop, and wire new growth to develop.

Im wondering if developing some movement now will save me some time in the long run?

Thanks in Advance

 

[Shibui]

Both will work.
I'm usually in favour of earlier chops. Chop tree in ground does not seem to reduce ultimate growth much BUT gives much better taper in the final trunk and allows time for the smaller chop to heal.
Transplant does slow growth, at least temporarily, so a larger chop at or around transplant can take much, much longer to heal.
Reduced roots and large chop as at transplant can occasionally lead to branches, associated roots and/or parts of trunk dying. Safer to retain some leaders to help trees recover then chop after successful root re-establishment.

Should be no problem chopping Chinese elm in Summer if you'd like to do so now.

 

[Aaronsbonsai]

Both will work.
I'm usually in favour of earlier chops. Chop tree in ground does not seem to reduce ultimate growth much BUT gives much better taper in the final trunk and allows time for the smaller chop to heal.
Transplant does slow growth, at least temporarily, so a larger chop at or around transplant can take much, much longer to heal.
Reduced roots and large chop as at transplant can occasionally lead to branches, associated roots and/or parts of trunk dying. Safer to retain some leaders to help trees recover then chop after successful root re-establishment.

Should be no problem chopping Chinese elm in Summer if you'd like to do so now.

Thanks for the reply! That makes a lot of sense, well I might make a chop tomorrow then. Would you recommend a straight chop or angled?

 

[ponderingsage]

Doing a straight job is best. And then later, coming back to clean it up after you see where the tree compartmentalized and died back.

 

[Shibui]

Would you recommend a straight chop or angled?

You have not showed us the tree so hard to say.
If you have a side branch to chop back to go straight for the angled cut, preferably behind the new leader.
If no branches suitable as a new leader just cut straight across. After the new shoots have grown you can pick out the best placed to become the new leader. Discourage others and encourage the chosen new leader. When the new leader is strong, make the angle cut, preferably behind the new leader.
If aiming for a broom style elm, the straight across cut is desirable. Let new shoots grow, choose 2 or 3 best placed and remove any others. You may need to make final trim of the old stump to suit the new ascending branches.

 

[Aaronsbonsai]

You have not showed us the tree so hard to say.
If you have a side branch to chop back to go straight for the angled cut, preferably behind the new leader.
If no branches suitable as a new leader just cut straight across. After the new shoots have grown you can pick out the best placed to become the new leader. Discourage others and encourage the chosen new leader. When the new leader is strong, make the angle cut, preferably behind the new leader.
If aiming for a broom style elm, the straight across cut is desirable. Let new shoots grow, choose 2 or 3 best placed and remove any others. You may need to make final trim of the old stump to suit the new ascending branches.

Thank you!