When is the best time to trunk chop a Larch?

My larch (Larix laricina) is far too tall for the caliper of trunk and I'd like to make more taper. When is the best time to trunk chop it? Thanks, Carolee

I think you can go ahead. Is not gonna bleed much.

thanks

yamasuri wrote:I think you can go ahead. Is not gonna bleed much.

Though I have never performed such a drastic reduction on a Larch I would imagine that doing so this close to senescence would probably be fatal..

Maybe I'm wrong. But I would at least wait until sometime in spring.
-Jay

I clipped mine roughly 4 weeks ago, in order to get some healing in before winter; I removed roughly half of the plant (2 years woth of unlimited growth in full ground). Another got his major haircut last winter, late Feb, removing 80% of all above-ground material. Both of them are fine.

So far I have found Larch to be very tolerant of major trimming. I am however working on very young plants (Up to 5 years of age), in very early stages of development. As trees get older they often are less tolerant. So.. What age are we talking, is it in full ground / training dish / bonsai pot? If it is a more mature tree, I would do it at the last breath of winter, before any major swelling of buds occur, but when the risk of strong frost is out of the air (Unless it is in a tray and you can place it in a cold garden shed).

Most species- hard pruning Autumn [less sap bleeding] or if Winter is harsh wait till early spring when deep frost goes away....that's my experience

it depends what is left below the chop really - not much time to form strong growth so i would want a lot of low down branches to remain on the tree stump that remains

Thanks all, the tree is about 25 years old, and is currently in a short (I call them bulb pots), plastic 12-inch pot, and a little over two feet tall. It has branches low and all is healthy. I want to do a small shohin, and when examining it recently, decided that where the top should be (to be proportional to the nebari), is too straight. After reading all your replies, I'll wait until late February or so to do it. It will be outside this winter, but larches love Maine winters!