What to do with this Sugarberry / Southern Hackberry

[Srt8madness]

Found this in a ditch behind one of my offices. I like the lower movement on the trunk.

Question is, what would the best method of attack be? If I dig it in the Spring, I'll have to wait a year for recovery, sort the roots out, then wait another year.

My thought is to go ahead and trim it back a touch, then put a low air layer on it. Almost like a ground layer, as I'm thinking of digging down around the trunk, ringing the bark, putting a nursery can around it, then filling with substrate.

This way when Spring '24 comes around, I separate the layer, the tree having new (hopefully) radial roots to support it. Then I can start top work the Spring after, essentially saving myself a year and likely developing a better root system.

Am I missing anything here? I know it's a bit hot for a layer, but doing it low should be less of an issue. I could also do a true ground layer.

 

[Srt8madness]

Bump, any suggestions?

 

[namnhi]

This would be my plan...
Ground layer it now. You should get plenty of root by Fall. I wouldn't trim anything right now until a couple weeks before harvesting. I don't see the point of waiting until Spring 24. October 23 is a safe bet to that it is ready to collect. Ground layer would be much easier than air layer in this case.... just cover the trunk.

 

[Tieball]

I would do the layer as a true ground layer using earth's core ground temperature and moisture distribution as support. I would not prune any top areas while doing the ground layering. I’d look at the roots developed in the ground layer in autumn and would determine then if I dug it out this year or just waited for spring 2024. I’m inclined to wait for spring 2024….but that may be because I’d be facing a harsh winter after autumn. Texas likely has a very different winter environment than I've experienced.

 

[namnhi]

This would be my plan...
Ground layer it now. You should get plenty of root by Fall. I wouldn't trim anything right now until a couple weeks before harvesting. I don't see the point of waiting until Spring 24. October 23 is a safe bet to that it is ready to collect. Ground layer would be much easier than air layer in this case.... just cover the trunk.

Of course you will need to cut a ring around the trunk before covering it with soil. Too obvious that I forgot to mention in my original reply thread

 

[Srt8madness]

Thanks for the replies and advice! Ground layer it is

 

[Tieball]

When you do the ground layer be sure to place something below the top cut of the ring and above the current roots to keep growth separated and convenient for removal. I’m sure you know this already so I won’t go into details.