I'm trying to increase my stock potential material, and not really sure there the best place is to bring on trees. Do I stick them in the ground and risk losing lower branches as all the energy is directed towards the top of the tree? Or leave them in pots? And when to chop? I have a few hornbeams, acers and beech trees in this position.

John

QueensKing wrote: I'm trying to increase my stock potential material, and not really sure there the best place is to bring on trees. Do I stick them in the ground and risk losing lower branches as all the energy is directed towards the top of the tree?

This depends on several things: the type of tree (deciduous, evergreen, apically dominant, basally dominant), but also on what you do with it.
You can let a tree grow until it gets thick enough, then cut it, grow a new leader, and let the base and new leader get thicker. Then you cut again and repeat the process.

That is one way, but there are several techniques. There are many good resources:
www.bonsaiempire.com/blog/bonsai-trunk-creation
www.evergreengardenworks.com/trunks.htm
www.growingbonsai.net/growing-bonsai/growing-trunks/

You will get the fasted growth if you plant your tree in the ground.
However, I'm growing a few in pots too (I am running out of space )







Or leave them in pots? And when to chop? I have a few hornbeams, acers and beech trees in this position.

John[/quote]

I'll check them out, cheers.

I'm thinking about trying this technique:

Anyone had any success with this?

You can let a tree grow until it gets thick enough, then cut it, grow a new leader, and let the base and new leader get thicker. Then you cut again and repeat the process.

this is how i have been doing it and its working fine. i have several bald cypress's in pots being trained/conditioned for a forest piece.
and several other types.