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Should I prune?

11 years ago

I bought a "band pot" Picea Orientalis 'Silver Seedling' and it came with the top of the rootstock still attached. I read about pruning to balance the energy of the tree. Would this help strengthen the graft as if it were a lower branch, or would it be detrimental to prune it? Remove it altogether?

This will be planted in my yard, maybe permanently.

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Comments (3)

User
11 years ago
It'll help the trunk, but if you don't want it, don't be afraid to remove it.
mblan13
Original Author
11 years ago
It's not so much what I want aesthetically.

I want the graft and the eventual tree to be as strong and vigorous as possible.
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User
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
It's grafted, which doesn't mean it won't be strong, and keeping the orig. should help fatten the lower trunk, but aesthetics should matter as well. The graft won't automatically strengthen the tree otherwise by being a graft as such... the top will matter, esp. depending on its genetics.

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