Hi all!
I did a thread recently about branch structure for some Japanese Maples that I air layered. That got me thinking harder about these two trees that've been on my radar all winter, deciding their fate. One's an Autumn Blaze @ 30' tall (pis 1st-4th) and the other an Oct. Glory @ 20+ft (pics 5th-8th ) which is one of my favorites in fall.
I read the Autumn Blaze is practically maintenance free while others rant they have to be trimmed every two years with a boom and are high maintenance. Mine have gone unchecked and whatever the case, I need to do something.
In the thread we talked about U & V structured branch weaknesses and bark being trapped between parallel leads or branches holding moisture and rot too. The Autumn Blaze is FULL of them! Practically built of it.
Poor thing's a mess. I could go through and surgically remove some of it while the tree fills in and continue on through the years with this until it is corrected and trying to heal up a final and large wound for a tree with such thin bark. But I don't think that would stop it from making more problems as it grows since that seems to be it's structure by default. I don't understand how this tree could be so popular and yet so high maint? IDK, maybe I just got the weird one? Ha!
If I was to correct it all at once, 2/3 of the tree would be gone which is a no-no, so I hear. It's gotten so tall, it bows in the wind heavily and it worries me. I'm certain that eventually one or two of the leads will break under the right conditions and damage something like the shop next to it or our pump house on the other side. I've already cut some branches out that just sag level under their own weight - that happens more and more. Most of the issues are obvious, especially with the clusters of branches and leads coming out one area. I will address that soon. Can this tree be topped to make life easier on me? I'm thinking if it's going to be a basket case the rest of my life, maybe I should cut it down and put something else in its place? I thought I'd ask and see if it was worth keeping? I really like the tree, A LOT! It's a head turner in the fall too. Looks like it's on fire. But aside from it's looks, it's hard not to think about the problems coming around the corner as it gets bigger.
Tthe Oct. Glory has 3 leads and a snug parallel. Each is 1/3 of the tree growing parallel to each other - beautiful rounded shape all together. I could remove a little at a time but it would take many yrs to fix while it looked like a airplane crashed into it. Has anyone dealt with this before and had nay success? If so, what did you do? I'm thinking even if I give up on the Autumn Blaze. the October glory may be worth saving because it doesn't grow with the same bad habits?
I'm just trying to get my trees the way I want them and not have to worry about anything out of the ordinary. It bothers me seeing these problems and not doing something about it - one way or the other. Any help or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading.
I did a thread recently about branch structure for some Japanese Maples that I air layered. That got me thinking harder about these two trees that've been on my radar all winter, deciding their fate. One's an Autumn Blaze @ 30' tall (pis 1st-4th) and the other an Oct. Glory @ 20+ft (pics 5th-8th ) which is one of my favorites in fall.
I read the Autumn Blaze is practically maintenance free while others rant they have to be trimmed every two years with a boom and are high maintenance. Mine have gone unchecked and whatever the case, I need to do something.
In the thread we talked about U & V structured branch weaknesses and bark being trapped between parallel leads or branches holding moisture and rot too. The Autumn Blaze is FULL of them! Practically built of it.
Poor thing's a mess. I could go through and surgically remove some of it while the tree fills in and continue on through the years with this until it is corrected and trying to heal up a final and large wound for a tree with such thin bark. But I don't think that would stop it from making more problems as it grows since that seems to be it's structure by default. I don't understand how this tree could be so popular and yet so high maint? IDK, maybe I just got the weird one? Ha!
If I was to correct it all at once, 2/3 of the tree would be gone which is a no-no, so I hear. It's gotten so tall, it bows in the wind heavily and it worries me. I'm certain that eventually one or two of the leads will break under the right conditions and damage something like the shop next to it or our pump house on the other side. I've already cut some branches out that just sag level under their own weight - that happens more and more. Most of the issues are obvious, especially with the clusters of branches and leads coming out one area. I will address that soon. Can this tree be topped to make life easier on me? I'm thinking if it's going to be a basket case the rest of my life, maybe I should cut it down and put something else in its place? I thought I'd ask and see if it was worth keeping? I really like the tree, A LOT! It's a head turner in the fall too. Looks like it's on fire. But aside from it's looks, it's hard not to think about the problems coming around the corner as it gets bigger.
Tthe Oct. Glory has 3 leads and a snug parallel. Each is 1/3 of the tree growing parallel to each other - beautiful rounded shape all together. I could remove a little at a time but it would take many yrs to fix while it looked like a airplane crashed into it. Has anyone dealt with this before and had nay success? If so, what did you do? I'm thinking even if I give up on the Autumn Blaze. the October glory may be worth saving because it doesn't grow with the same bad habits?
I'm just trying to get my trees the way I want them and not have to worry about anything out of the ordinary. It bothers me seeing these problems and not doing something about it - one way or the other. Any help or opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for reading.