Hi all
just a confirmation of learning here
I have a Yamadori field maple that started as a stump and I have started growing out the primary branches
cutting back growth in the upper half of the tree to push energy into the lowest branches
Now these imo need to be 1” in thickness is it just a case of let them extend for a couple of years until they are closer to this thickness
Or should I start developing the secondary structure?
I have a few and find that they thicken fairly fast. I agree that keeping the upper region under control will drive growth into the lower branches. I think you can both start to build ramification and thicken the branch at the same time. Pick the inner secondaries you want to start to build and prune them start creating ramification. Allow a sacrifice to grow from the end of the branch and let it grow wild - perhaps even two years. Start developing the next sacrifice or two in behind that like they were going to be used for ramification, but then cut back to it. You can probably even have sacrifice or two that is allowed to run back in the ramification area that will be cut back to build taper. I have found that you get more bulk if the sacrifice is a single growth point with a bare stretch.
I have also found that these tend to favor the growth of two to four roots at the expense of the other roots, particularly in the ground. Therefore, I like to repot and root prune every other year even though it slows the growth a bit. Alternate years of root pruning and sacrifice pruning to that the old sacrifice drives root recovering and the old roots drive new sacrifice growth.
Good luck.
Thanks for the reply
what you have detailed makes sense as that’s kind of my plan
I have the branches I wish to thicken extending with the addition of a single sacrifice branch growing closer to the point of origin (aiming to remove at the end of the season)
Each primary branch was cut end of year 1 and secondary’s started this year
Regarding roots as this is a Yamadori the roots have grown vigorously in a couple of places but leaving some large gaps which I was looking at either grafting on or I have seen a technique used by Dan Barton (uk) where he drills a whole and injects roooting hormon gel and plugs the hole to grow new roots
I have used both thread and approach grafts to improve the roots on A. campestre. I prefer thread.
