That's exactly what I did to one not too long ago. My wife bought me one of those 3 tree groups from Bonsai Boy for my birthday last year (she didn't know any better). I left it alone long enough for her to forget about it and then I separated the 3 trees this spring and threw 2 of them away. I kept the best one and removed all unwanted branches and cut the remaining branches to stubs. I would do the same thing to yours.
I'm going to as well, and I love how you handle the gift LOL !!!!
Stone...
Not the end of the world....
But I would try to cut it back in one sitting.
At least on the first go round...
It's easier to manage\balance emerging growth if it's even.
Well Thought out, different timed pruning for branch development can be used later..*
But now....when you go to prune again...
(Your major path setting prune) ....
You're going to be working around a bunch of delicate New growth...
New growth...
Which will be bigger no matter what, since it's had longer to grow.*
You might find yourself needing to cut that new growth again...
Or accidentally knock it's off....
Both weakening your tree.
Of course...it's Florida...
But you got a contest to win!
Sorce
This sunday I'm hitting it hard in one sitting. I do get stuck in overthinking and like you said "well thought out pruning" a lot.
Thank you as always for your advice and direction bro! I don't always make the smartest decisions but I try!
Maybe I'm crazy? idk!
And yes There is a contest that must be won!!!!!
Regarding FLORIDA:
My elms are pushing new growth at a rate of about 1/2 an inch every day right now. I have been pruning them every 2 days or so. They have not slowed one bit.
My Ficus are RIPPING! One inch long new aerial root on one of them. The other has 4 new "nubs" about to root out of trunk. I just repotted it less than 90 days ago and it's growing roots out of the pot and over the lips! When I go through and cut leaves off them, the next day I have new bud on that branch.
Although I'm familiar with a tree's energy and I know that what I am doing theoretically should be weakening them.....and yes I know it may be ok right now but in a few years they may croak but I doubt it.......
So I push the trees. But I've always been that way in life with everything, trying to push the limit (in a good way), always do more.
What I've found is if you lightly prune the tree regularly and the tree is fully healthy, and in a good environment, the tree doesn't even notice the work.
I've also repotted, hacked and wired trees all in one sitting without them skipping a beat. quite frequently.
Oh, on a Bougy......I bare rooted it, root pruned it heavily (all against the "rules" for bougy's) and it didn't skip a beat.
This climate is not normal. I personally hate the climate here but the trees love it. Growth over night regularly on trees, unless you are ruthless on some of these they get away from you in 2 weeks, some times less.
Only because my trees are not showing signs of slowing down do I work them hard.
From progressions that I see on the forum/online I'm guessing that this year I have already gotten more growth than other zones will in two years. Nuts!
