I had a bonsai lesson on a tree I acquired (Picea abies) and while I was there I bought a few young trees. The one in question is a Persian Hawthorn



Now I assume most will say is chop the top off and let it grow? This is what my idea is, but I also have an idea for the top. I know it is a young tree, but is air layering possible on this? I'd like the top part of the tree for a future raft project and I'd also like to practice an air layer before attempting one on a friends Prunus spinosa next year.

Thanks in advance

Maybe you could put it in a pot, and let it grow for a year. By then the roots may be big enough to push through a chop top, robustly.