Decision time: Should I train a new trunk?

4 years ago

I've asked this question here before, but it was theoretical at that time because it was the wrong season. Now that spring is here in Phoenix, I need to decide. This kumquat tree suffered significant sunburn when I brought it home and repotted it last fall. You can see from the pictures below that the burn starts a few inches up from the graft and spans half the girth. There is a single remaining branch with a cluster of leaves at the top. My question is, should I let the tree continue as is, or should I bend it down to a bud below the injury and try to force it to grow a new leader? If I leave it as is, it will be a very lopsided tree as it won't have any buds on the burned side. But if I train a new leader, it will probably be years before it returns to a productive state.

Featured Answer

herman zimmerman

4 years ago

Considering the amount of damage your trunk shows, I expect new shoots to flush out from the side that's alive. Personally, if I were to allow a new shoot to replace the original, I'd try to select one above the graft union, obviously. However, I would want it to below any of the damaged part visible at present.

I suspect this to happen of its own accord, considering the severity of the damage.

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Comments (6)

poncirusguy6b452xx
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
No. Your tree will snap instead of bend if you try to bend it over. Paint her up white. Why not plant it in ground.

Steve
Travis in PHX (9b) thanked poncirusguy6b452xx
Travis in PHX (9b)
Original Author
4 years ago
HOA won't let her go in ground. Technically, they won't let her in a pot either, but I figure at least if she's in a pot and the HOA comes for me, I can relocate her without too much difficulty.

I appreciate your advice Steve because I know you do a lot of grafting and I got the idea to bend the trunk from grafting. So, if you don't think that will work, I trust you.
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CA Kate z9
4 years ago
Instead of trying to bent it why don't you just cut it off above the last bud above the graft, let that grow into a leader?
Travis in PHX (9b)
Original Author
4 years ago
@Kate, my concern with that is the tree would lose all it's leaves. My hope with bending it is the leaves could still provide some energy for the tree until the new leader develops enough.
herman zimmerman
4 years ago
A small nick above a viable bud should be able to force early growth. After being established, the original stem can be safely removed.

Forced stem allows rootstock to develop branches.