Leader stem of birch damaged
Cornish Canary
Posts: 21
Just recieved a brand new Ghost Queen birch, to my disappointment I found the leader stem broken and barely attached (hence not attempted to splinter) I am probably in my rights to have it returned however I am also keen to get it into the ground And having spoke to the company they simply suggested pruning down to the next leaf.
My question is where would be the best place to prune? I have marked up the two obvious candidates as I see it but i would be really keen to know what is best. The purple mark is obviously the next leaf down but the next junction down seems a good candidate as it already has a branch? The tree has been purchased with aesthetics in mind so this is what I am most concerned about following the prune.
For info the tree is around 2 meters tall.
Would really appreciate your advice.
Regards
Steve
Posts
I think I'd take it down to the branching below the red mark, cut it off completely and train the shoot on the left as a leader.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly, just to clarify, are you recommending the branch heading off to the left (around about where the top of my satellite shadow is)
yes, but see what others think, that's just my opinion
In the sticks near Peterborough
Hello CC
Good advice from nutcutlet ; the left branch is your best bet .
A few years from now when the stems have thickened , you will never tell the difference .
Thank you both very much for your suggestions.
So ive made the cut.....one last thing, would you recommend using a split to straighten out the current angle of the new leader or leave nature to take its course? Thanks once again.
I think it will probably sort out.
In the sticks near Peterborough