Pick a leader (any leader?)

[butlern]

Decided to reduce the tree, eliminating "S" trunk, and at the same time start building taper.

My question now, after a 1.5 weeks, revolves around deciding when to select the new leader.

Should I let this grow out for another coupe of weeks, or start picking through this "tuft" to pick a leader now?

The concern is that if I let it go wild for another few weeks, the cut end will swell I'll induced reverse taper.

I have been trying to scrape away the new growth distal to the new leader segment on the top of the cut, hoping to reduce swelling. I also plan to carve the cut to blend with growth of new leader, once selected.

So... once more... should I act now or later for selecting leader?

 

[vaibatron]

Let it ride!

 

[sorce]

Yeah, let IT decide.

I would be thinking about keeping just a couple buds at the bottom. Till it decides there too.

But rub off the rest up the sides tho.

Sorce

 

[sorce]

Nice too!

Sorce

 

[butlern]

Boom!!

Answered.

Appreciate the encouragement and perspective.... let the tree tell me.

Onwards, upwards and outwards. Thanks for the feedback, mates.

Noah

 

[butlern]

OK, so now it's been 1 month....

Now is it time to pick a leader?

The strongest/longest/more robust potential leader that I identified does not necessarily originate from site most proximal to the cut (meaning closest to the top of the cut, where I imagine the healing and sealing would be most efficient).

Thoughts, my friends?

 

[Stickroot]

OK, so now it's been 1 month....

Now is it time to pick a leader?

The strongest/longest/more robust potential leader that I identified does not necessarily originate from site most proximal to the cut (meaning closest to the top of the cut, where I imagine the healing and sealing would be most efficient).

Thoughts, my friends?

View attachment 113782

You got it!

 

[Shay]

You can remove leaves from the base of each branch to help you see better...

 

[Paradox]

Imo, you should pick the best positioned one. It doesn't have to be the strongest, but it does need to be strong and healthy.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

like Paradox said, pick the best positioned one to continue next trunk segment, size doesn't matter, When you cut the others off, it will be the biggest.

 

[Cypress187]

I chose the thirth one below the second and diagonal from the 7th from the right, it looks like it's going to grow vigorous, like a winner.

 

[Paradox]

You've got a misconception.
The point is not to pick the strongest leader, but the one that is in the best position for the future design of the tree.

If the strongest one is on the bottom of the cut and you pick that one instead of the best positioned one at the top of the cut, imagine what that is going to look like as it grows out. To make the trunk line make sense, you are now going to have to cut back so that the leader is in a better position. Doing that can be a bit tricky in that you'll have to be careful not to damage the leader and still try to get it to heal so it won't look bad, if that is at all possible. I would imagine it is most likely not, or at the very least will take alot longer.

Strongest or not, the best positioned one will take over as the new leader. That is how trees work.

To late now as the deed is done. We will see how it develops I suppose.

 

[butlern]

Leader picked!

Will work further on shaping cut and promoting healing in the spring.

Thanks for feedback, everyone.

Noah

 

[ConorDash]

Nice wire, but what's the purpose of it?
The branch looks dead straight, and with the wire on.. Still dead straight, from this angle anyway lol.
So why the wire?

I have the same kind of tree and I've done the same, air layered it.
I think yours looks better than mine, personally, but I quite like the shohin that we are left with.
I'm gonna be making a topic on here tonight, I think, to see what people's thoughts are.
This is a good topic, as its so similar to what stage I'm at, with the same tree.

 

[butlern]

"...reduce the tree... and build taper.."

I have no idea what I'm doing, aside from experimenting, which is what I tend to do, sometimes unsuccessfully.

The main goal was to build taper. I think it's on course.

 

[ConorDash]

"...reduce the tree... and build taper.."

I have no idea what I'm doing, aside from experimenting, which is what I tend to do, sometimes unsuccessfully.

The main goal was to build taper. I think it's on course.

Oh yeah, that's all good and fine. No concerns there.
Just the wire, I was asking why the wire? Lol.
If you aren't going to use it to bend the branch in any way, why's it on there?

Everything else you are doing seems text book correct to me

 

[Craigm]

The wire looks like a smart move. It will steady the new leader especially at present because the exit from main trunk will be fragile and any knock to it could break it off.A little protection.Nice progress!

 

[butlern]

Sorry, didn't address the wire...

Craigm is correct--the wire affords stability, the other shoots I eliminated basically just fell away from the cut with little pressure. Very fragile, still, at this stage.

Also, this particular shoot was originally growing out 45 degrees from the cut. Now it's leading in the direction of my choosing (up, like a new leader).

 

[ConorDash]

Sorry, didn't address the wire...

Craigm is correct--the wire affords stability, the other shoots I eliminated basically just fell away from the cut with little pressure. Very fragile, still, at this stage.

Also, this particular shoot was originally growing out 45 degrees from the cut. Now it's leading in the direction of my choosing (up, like a new leader).

The wire looks like a smart move. It will steady the new leader especially at present because the exit from main trunk will be fragile and any knock to it could break it off.A little protection.Nice progress!

Ah that's cool, I've never heard of a wire used for that before .
I didn't know that, thanks.

The differing opinion on whether to use wound sealant or not.. As I used it on mine. Now I'm thinking, how will it back bud if it's covered by sealant..?

 

[butlern]

I used sealant, as pictures show.

I, too, was worried about whether this would impair or impinge on new buds, but these elms cannot be stopped, apparently.

As depicted in the second picture (from the top), buds pushed everywhere, regardless of sealant (which in the end just sort of fell away as new growth pushed and pushed).