Almost all large trees are field grown or collected trees. It's a common practice to develop a large trunk on deciduous trees and tropicals and then work on branches afterwards.

randy

Here is a link that might be useful: field growing

Staticx,

That is a common practice and can be useful while growing trunks out. You may not be able to go from the ground directly into your pot, probably depends on the individual tree, how long you leave it in the growing bed and the size of the intended pot. An intermediate pot may be required to ease the transition to the final pot.

Pests: by the time you re-pot it twice (once into the training pot and once into the final pot) you will have had the opportunity to look it over pretty good. Not to mention at least one year to observe it while it is in the training pot.

The trunk chop can be done either way, in the pot or the ground. More important, in my opinion, is that the tree be well established before the chop. The tree must be healthy and well fed in order to respond well to the chop. A recently transplanted tree may not have the vigor to survive a severe chop.

Norm