When the leaves drop or change colors. When they are easy to poke off. It's a good time to do silhouette work. When young it's a good time to put some boogie in the trunk, branch! I am not making big chops, nothing over a pencil size. Big chops is for the summer just after growth has hardened off.
I wired both trees pretty heavy. A lot of branches will not be part of the tree after the foliage hardened off. I still wired because I want them to have some boogie for making cuttings. Last growing season I had great success on cuttings. But they all are ram rod straight. The details you will learn with time. The wire I will remove just after the buds break or leafs harden off.
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You can see the branches pretty darn straight. This is a Japanese Maple Arakawa, I have owned for 2 growing seasons.
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![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/52b69a_6a324de666964b26af5a62bea1ace894~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/52b69a_6a324de666964b26af5a62bea1ace894~mv2.png)
Showing all sides. Taking a look before I remove leaves.
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![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/52b69a_49c8fbe568d94313af49d673dca50c70~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/52b69a_49c8fbe568d94313af49d673dca50c70~mv2.png)
Leaves are removed and now taking in thought of what am I gonna do with it? The top will be made into a air layer or cuttings once the material hardens off next growing season. Then look to see where I want to make my chop to start a new leader?
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All wired.
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The red line indicates where I would chop for the air layer or cuttings.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/52b69a_572749a08bb049b3bc76f6bcc46cdabf~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/52b69a_572749a08bb049b3bc76f6bcc46cdabf~mv2.jpg)
New leader and a chop thicker branch. Let it rip for a few more years and repeat new leader process. Every year after leaves drop you should perform a silhouette tune. Always want branches with some movement.
I do plan on repotting this one this upcoming season. Start to work on roots and trunk thickness.
Next one I did this morning before work. A Hornbeam, Japanese or European. This tree had the wire left on a little to long. I do not have much hope for it. Still plan on working it to fine tune my abilities. Also along the way I can propagate material from it. It will also be planted in a grow box. You never know someone might dig the wire scares?
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/52b69a_7080636a39cd466b9fb680aef4024c92~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/52b69a_7080636a39cd466b9fb680aef4024c92~mv2.png)
Tree has plenty of movement but the wire scaring is just bad. The majority of deciduous trees should never have scaring? A conifer with big chunky bark it's ok with scaring. I leave my wire on my pines way longer just to have it bite.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/52b69a_f605d52a6d9f4249bb28ad9a9afd5d43~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/52b69a_f605d52a6d9f4249bb28ad9a9afd5d43~mv2.png)
Maybe I could build the top and do a air layer? That's a fine idea. Remember nothing is done or lost. Keep hope on everything.
Such a good and relaxing time while working on trees.
October 27, 2022
Ted
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