Right, after Auk mentioned the worry about a big cut..

Here is my crabapple.. An layer from a larger tree, trunk chopped and well.. Boring.

It has a 'natural' shari, and I have created a top shari on the otherside. In early spring I am planning to hollow the trunk and build an old worn down tree..

I can see the potential now you have said it. For a good carve and ancient trunk i think i agree with you on that. Next step: let it grow.

One question, hw long do you think it would take to create a nice branch ramification?

leatherback wrote:

Right, after Auk mentioned the worry about a big cut..

Here is my crabapple..

Good examples, thanks. If I want to make something out of my crabapple, it seems I hardly have another choice but to get rid of the current top. I'm going to be patient though. I got it autumn last year, with lots of little apples in it by the way, so it seems healthy enough, but I want to see first what it does this year, and how hard it grows.

Next year... maybe, if I'm brave enough

bob wrote:

One question, hw long do you think it would take to create a nice branch ramification?

I have my eyes on a 4 years trajectory before getting in the area of ramnification (Which with crapapple is almost always coarse)
Year 1 = last year: Getting the self-layered section to root
Year 2 = This year: Carving the stump
Year 3 = Primary & secundairy branches in place
Year 4 = Start refining

So basically, the first two years, the plant gets to do what it wants, to buildup energy. Carving this year is actually a year too soon, but I am an impatient person, and hope I can provide enough TLC to get it through a dificult phase.. Depending on the response (I fully expect the tree to be sulky this year) I may or may nog wire the plant sometime in summer, and get the first branching in place..