JBP - selecting a new leader

[nip]

removed...

 

[0soyoung]

I cannot use only the thick branch due to a lack of buds near the wound.

Any suggestions?

So do you just want someone to tell you that it is okay to do what you know you should do?

After you do that, maybe you should think in terms of how to hide the scar because it will take many years to bark over. Maybe you can put it to the back of your design, wire so it is obscured by foliage, jin this area and make an apex lower down, or ... .

 

[nip]

So do you just want someone to tell you that it is okay to do what you know you should do?

After you do that, maybe you should think in terms of how to hide the scar because it will take many years to bark over. Maybe you can put it to the back of your design, wire so it is obscured by foliage, jin this area and make an apex lower down, or ... .

Not sure I follow what you're suggesting. You think I should remove this entire section and start over with a single leader lower on the trunk? The first chop, which can be seen about 90% healed in the middle photo is not far below this chop. So i don't have much room or branches between the first and second chop. I will review it further when I get home to assess that possibility.
I would prefer to go with one of the two options I mentioned. I am hoping someone has encountered a similar situation. I'm leaning towards option B because I fear that keeping the thick leader could result in an unusual bulge. Or maybe the thick leader will speed things up?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Really hard to know how to advise by these photos. Something farther back, showing more of that area, and one from the front would help.

 

[0soyoung]

Not sure I follow what you're suggesting.

Your words are that you cannot use the thick branch. You slip in an 'only' and a few other words to raise the emotional confusion level, but you clearly are screaming that you want to take it off and that you know you should take it off. Your pictures don't give any idea of the tree you have. They only show that branch with which you seem to be obsessed.

So do you just want someone to tell you that it is okay to do what you know you should do?

If you actually want advice on styling your tree, I second Brian's response: Really hard to know how to advise by these photos. Something farther back, showing more of that area, and one from the front would help.

 

[iant]

I thought I'd mention I see some needle cast (yellow banding.) are you spraying with copper or an antifungal?
Ian