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Young Panache Lil Top Heavy?

Should I just pinch @ 6 and see where it goes? Wait until dormancy and cut the top off? If not what scaffolds to keep? Seems nursery waited too long/tall to head off. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

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You could air layer at half height on the trunk, so you get a plant with the top branches and a rooted main trunk to begin a new scaffold structure.

If not interested in getting more trees, I would count up 3 or 4 equidistant branches from the bottom and cut it at a slant about an inch above the top chosen keeper branch. You can do that today if you want. Next time you go up to a bigger pot you can plant it deeper too, that's another good way to shorten the main trunk.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cis4elk
If not interested in getting more trees, I would count up 3 or 4 equidistant branches from the bottom and cut it at a slant about an inch above the top chosen keeper branch. You can do that today if you want. Next time you go up to a bigger pot you can plant it deeper too, that's another good way to shorten the main trunk.


I have a very top heavy panache too, though the trunk on mine is thick enough to support it. I plan to do exactly the same as you suggest, with keeping the structure in place and planting it a few inches deeper every time I do a root-prune cycle. By the time it is shorter the trunk should be much thicker and able to easily support the crown.

Using your fence rail in the background, and the thickness of your truck, I do not think that it is too top heavy.  You can pinch the top at the 6th leave nodes to stunt the upward growth, while waiting the trunk to get bigger over time for tree form.  If you want bush form, you can let those water shoots come out of the lower trunk for a more balanced scaffold.  But you will have to decide first if this plant will be in ground or in pot, which may affect your decision somewhat.

If it can live outside in the ground in your area I would set it out. I fertilized heavily on my tree when it was just an air layered cutting set out in well prepared soil I used Miracle Grow and Fertiloam fruit and nut tree fertilizer. It developed tall central stem and branching in two years. I think the shape is fine.

Hi,
You tree is fine. Looking at her from the top, you should keep 3 or  4 branches that are well spaced.
On a side note ... Panaché is known to be a huge tree and a huge grower.
I don't think that Panaché is well suited for the potted culture.
Currently, your pot seems to be too small for the tree... I would would pot up or plant the tree in the ground.

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