runaway apex

Here is an example of a tree grown from scratch that keeps climbing for the sky as I form one new apex after the next after the next and so on. Now it is time to pay the piper and cut this tree back to size in my judgement. Any ideas where the sword should fall?

__gary

Here are a couple of ideas...courtesy of Suthin's website.
Neil

Make note to myself....have Neil check in his weapon if he ever visits my nursery. lol's
Could we move the sword up just a teency weency.
I do admire the ficus shown and it takes some you know whats to chop a tree in that fashion. I recently did a chop inspired by the example shown above. It cetainly was a memorable moment.

__gary

Although I do not have a picture. I have developed a couple shohin in a similar fashion. Of course, not near as nice a Suthin. I think Rob Kempinski has some on his blog, as well as an article out there on line. They are nice trees.

Hey Gary,

Looks like Willow Leaf ficus. The branching and nebari and taper are pretty good all the way up. The first visible bar braches look like a good spot to regrow a dome shaped canopy.
I'd also cut and carve those thick roots to get ramification in closer to the trunk.




As for drastic chopping to make a sumo shohin, I would only recommend that for a tree that has defects above the proposed chop. I put such a case study example in my book. However Gary's tree doesn't need such a radical treatment.

Sounds like a good plan to me Rob. I will show patient after surgery. Thanks for the ideas all!

__gary

Pulling up branch to become new apex. Left old apex for short term use to pull with.
Cut back branches for future new budding.
Cut eye soar "eye poker" root in front. Thread grafted new stock for future root.
Removed all runaway roots to tighten up and get scale back in order.
Tilted pot to minimize and or reduce capillary fringe in pot do to root loss.
Wired down roots and sealed cuts so we are good to go.
__gary





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Gary, Just curious as to why you wouldn't air layer the top off?
G.

Garykk wrote:Sounds like a good plan to me Rob. I will show patient after surgery. Thanks for the ideas all!

__gary

The old apex will be cut and saved in the mist bed G. Some future could be possible there, good thinking. This time of year it should root without any problem without the need of mossing it off.

__gary

Gary,
I am still partial to a lower chop for a sumo, but taking off the apex was a good call. I think what is bothering me a little is that there appears to be no back branch until you get 3/4ths of the way up to the old apex. Any chance you could develop on lower to add some depth?

Good work though, thanks again for sharing.
Neil

This tree has always been one of those coulda shouldas. You would think growing from scratch it would be less difficult getting it right. I mean the grower has complete control of the goings on right? Well it seems now looking back and having more experience with 'chops', the 'chops' are easier. They have a look to their own I suppose. Growing nebari, trunk, sacrifice branches and proper height from scratch and having branches to scale is very difficult. It is a completly different approach to bonsai. Maybe not as dramatic as a chop as well but that was the way I was taught years ago Neil.

__gary