What to do with these 11 months Japanese maples?

[Chuck]

I am very lost on the trashy tree trunk topic.
I could not find much on google. First few articles are pecan. It sounds like this should be done 2-3 times a year? Like pinch the tip to stop growth but not cutting? Wouldn’t cutting the tip force more multi-branch growth (like to avocado seedlings)? Since it won’t grow up and stay low, then wouldn’t that be a network of more branches under? I mean these looks different from suckers right? Very confused now.



View attachment 73078

I'll try to explain better. Let's assume that you don't want any limbs below 4 feet from the ground. All you do is cut off all of the limbs under 4 feet from the ground leaving a 12-16 inch long section of each limb that you cut on the tree. This uncut portion of the limb will grow many little limbs and leaves adding nutrients and volume to the trunk. After a couple of years you cut off the 12-16 inch sections which is by now a mass of limbs and leaves leaving you with a clean trunk 4 feet in height with no limbs. That is why it is called Trashy Trunk. It looks trashy because of all the 12-16 inch bushy looking limbs that are still on the tree. You only do this procedure once.

 

[LGY]

I have removed the mulch area. One of it the root cannot be seen as it is inside the soil. The larger one root is above soil with the back of the hand look. Nothing circling.

That' fine with me but I really suspect that LGY has planted his trees too deep. Perhaps he will follow us there.

 

[Chuck]

I have removed the mulch area. One of it the root cannot be seen as it is inside the soil. The larger one root is above soil with the back of the hand look. Nothing circling.

The first three pictures are great. In fact you could add a little soil if you wanted but you don't really need to.

 

[LGY]

Thanks Chuck

I'll try to explain better. Let's assume that you don't want any limbs below 4 feet from the ground. All you do is cut off all of the limbs under 4 feet from the ground leaving a 12-16 inch long section of each limb that you cut on the tree. This uncut portion of the limb will grow many little limbs and leaves adding nutrients and volume to the trunk. After a couple of years you cut off the 12-16 inch sections which is by now a mass of limbs and leaves leaving you with a clean trunk 4 feet in height with no limbs. That is why it is called Trashy Trunk. It looks trashy because of all the 12-16 inch bushy looking limbs that are still on the tree. You only do this procedure once.