Hi, lucky you! Yes it really is much too late, March (or really whenever buds are just about to open) would be best. You could chop then. What you might do now if you're energetic, is to make a wide circle around the area (where you plan to dig) and go straight down with a sharp shovel (or whatever you have) and make alternating cuts (through roots) without otherwise 'digging'. That will give you a head start on things, hopefully encourage some new roots higher up, but still allow it to grow where it is.

I will preface this by saying that I lived in Western Pa for most of my life -- Ginko was one tree we nursery grew as pre-Bonsai stock. Most of the advice was good however, they are a very forgiving tree.

If you can pre-dig as suggested and leave the tree for another season, do that by all means. However, when pre-digging, you should use a sharp spade/shovel and make the cuts all the way around the tree at about a 45 degree angle. You want to cut the tap root as well at this time. I would leave the major cut (to shorten the tree) until it's dormant, say March of next year.

Bob

Dormant in March? You really have been away too long!

Gingkos are definitely still dormant in March here in Vermont, but hey this is practically the cold north woods!

Anyway, I have some experience with Ginkgos, and some (limited) experience collecting, so I thought I'd put my two cents in. I recently bought a great Ginkgo bonsai from a nursery here in VT for $60 (a steal, if you ask me). The trunk is about 1.5" in diameter. I'll post some photos if you want.

I also know that Gingko wounds scar pretty good, so I am wondering how a 15-footer would react to a head chopping. I am intrigued....

Lastly, what about just rooting a big ol' branch and starting from there? It may give you a better look, I dunno. Saves you the trouble of collecting, right? Is this more a question of the style of bonsai you are trying to create?

I guess my question is more of a question than a comment. Haha.

The poster is from Penn., but even in Vt. while the ground might still be frozen and there are only small buds on a tree, formal dormancy is finished, you just can't tell yet! Seriously, dormancy starts in maybe late Oct., possibly Nov. depending on where you live (whether or not you can tell) and is fairly overwith by Feb. as far as trees go, but depending on where you are (sick of this yet :-)? you won't notice until a couple of months have passed.

Ginkgos are dormant in april and may here in So Cali . Mine started budding end of may .

Maybe we're not talking about the same thing. Just because a tree is late to bud out does not mean it's dormant. It may do nothing at all for ages, but that's not the same thing. However, it may just be semantics at this point, so call it what you want.

Moot point anyway as the OP plans to leave it in the ground for a while (from the original post). I wouldn't do a major trunk reduction of a tree in a pot/training box unless it was dormant however, I've done a lot of major work to trees in the ground. Just tried to stay away from it in the early spring say, till the leaves are fully out.

Bob

Moot point anyway as the OP plans to leave it in the ground for a while (from the original post). I wouldn't do a major trunk reduction of a tree in a pot/training box unless it was dormant however, I've done a lot of major work to trees in the ground. Just tried to stay away from it in the early spring say, till the leaves are fully out.

Bob

Howdy, all!

I believe the term we're looking for is 'Quiescent.'

After the trees leave dormancy ('sleep'), they enter a quiescent (or 'wakeful') stage.


Josh

Greeman, as usual, you are the voice of reason!