Hi everyone.
This is an idea I have for my sourwood. I got it at the discount place dirt cheap...like $6.00 I think. Anyway, tonight I decided it's fate. Right now it's entirely too tall (24 inches) and it's trunk is a disaster. the branches are too long....I could go on.
here it is...
next spring I'm going to chop the whole thing and start over. I think it would be a cute broom style bonsai, if the leaves reduce.
here's a picture of the whole tree and another of it's trunk...

Hi Lance,

This is the one you previously chopped...yes? And you had wired the two lower branches as well as the trunk leader. I think the bend in the trunk is kinda funky! It seems that it needs a lot more secondary branches...would you agree?

Leslie,
This tree is the same tree. I thought the bend in the trunk was kind of fun too...for a while.
The tree needs more secondary branches, smaller leaves, shorter internodes.
Its funny how peoples perspectives change

Yes, the leaves are huge! Could you pinch back the new growth on the end of the branches to slow the growth there and encourage some back-budding? Although I don't suppose this can be done with an outdoor tree this time of year :huh:. I find this tree is similar in looks to the Ficus.
Wow! Our overnight temperture went down to 5 degrees Celcius...that's only 40F!!!

leslie,
yep time to bring in the tropicals i hit 48 last night and 41 is the low tonight.
winters comeing fast get your trees secure early this year

Lance,
just to be safe leave a branch when you chop them sometimes they don't come back when cut too far...by the way have you tasted your tree?is it really sour?i think i would be tempted

P.S how do you get a quote from another post just copy and paste?

At the bottom of the screen..click the button that reads "quote".
I will taste a leaf on my sourwood tomorrow and let you know. I'm now curious.

Pinkham wrote: At the bottom of the screen..click the button that reads "quote".
I will taste a leaf on my sourwood tomorrow and let you know. I'm now curious.

cool it didn't work like this last time i tried it, thanks, as for tasting the leaves i'd make sure its not poisonous,i was kinda joking but i know if it was safe i'd try it.

It tastes like a leaf. It's not sour..what a rip off

LOL!!! nice to know that you know what a regular leaf tastes like, maples leaves are quite unique i'd say myself. maybe its the wood thats sour...no tree biting now

Hey Lance,
Next Spring when you go to give your Sourwood a chop...you could try gnawing thru it first to see what it tastes like (Just kidding...don't go chewing on anything unless you know it's safe, K?)

This morning when I got up at 6:30 am...it was 0 degrees celcius ~ 32 degrees F. We had our first frost of the season! I luv the Spring and Fall however, the older I get the less I like Winter.