It should be no problem IF the plant is healthy and currently growing with good vitality - especially if some of the spring flush has already matured. Yes - it's safe to chop it below the first branch. If the tree is very old, most of the back-budding will occur from the cambium around the wound, so I would be sure to cover well with cut paste (I apply water-proof wood clue to the cut) or similar to keep the wound from drying back. If the tree is young and the bark still pretty smooth, it will back-bud randomly along the trunk. Again though, you can't cut back a tree that's circling the drain & expect it to back-bud fir you. With most trees, you wouldn't want to risk cutting back so close to the spring flush, but U parvifolia is so genetically vigorous that trees in good vitality should tolerate it fine.

AL

The tree is healthy and growing like a weed. It's only a couple of yrs old so the bark is smooth.

Thanks Al