Your Thoughts on a Clump Style Pineapple Guava

[Firstflush]

Still pondering this thing. Currently, there are 7 main trunks coming off the big crown.
I think once recovered more and warmer weather, I want to reduce to 3 or 5.

Making the selection, obviously I do not want it symmetrical, or do I want decent spacing between the trunks? How would you make the selection? Movement alone? Would you keep an oddball smaller trunk and 2 big ones? Keep only big ones? Select 2 close together and one off to the side?

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

You know, you could keep all 7 trunks.

The answer could be "Yes" to all the questions. Right now every branch has sections that are too straight.

If it were mine:

1.) Shorten everything by about a third, it will look like a sphere for a minute.

2.) Shorten thinner diameter branches by an additional third.

3. ) Wire, apply wire heavy gauge enough to put wiggle in every branch. If branches are too heavy, pieces of rebar, and blocks can be used. If wood cracks, don't panic. Stop. Move to next branch.

Pruning and wiring will encourage back budding.

4.) Every year from here on out, prune back twice a year. Middle spring and again 10 weeks later.

5.) Every July-August wire movement into new growth. You can remove wire by end of year.

Once you get in the habit of wiring and pruning every year, this will shape up nicely.

At some point you can decide which branches to keep, and which to remove. If they all contribute to a tree look; keep them all.

 

[Firstflush]

As always Leo, thanks. Law Enforcement Officer? The Po Po
More recovery is in the future first. Just started back budding

 

[Firstflush]

So about 6 weeks later, the thing is very healthy and back budding. Very interesting that the trunks/branches that just happened to be left a little longer (a few inches at most) following the chop, are the ones with more vigor and more new shoots.

As people have recommended, I’m taking a look every day in and effort to reduce to 3 main trunks (maybe get to 5 first). The crown is about a fist and a half. It is difficult!. It is located on my front doorstep walkway. I can’t miss it.

So the first pick left side is a gap off the crown. Likely keep that bigger one (9 o’clock)) for overall health and balance. Looks like the smaller one at 12 o’clock is a candidate for removal since it is much thinner than the others.