When to do it developmentally depends on what you have envisioned for the tree. Some might wait several years if the tree is in a container or if a large specimen is envisioned and the tree is in the ground. If you're thinking that you'd like a smaller tree, a couple of years in the ground or 3-4 in a pot may be all you can stand (in the patience dept.). That decision is up to you and the tree.

Al

I was wanting to give the tree a broom look. And I read that trunk chopping was the best means of doing this. If this is beyond your expertise I completely understand. Once again thank you for your time.

Yes, a chop at about 2/3 the height you expect the tree to finish at is a preferred method of creating a broom. There really is no guideline as to what age the tree should be when you chop it, but it should have been growing with very good vitality in the previous growth cycle as it went into dormancy. Also, the younger the tree the higher the % of dynamic mass - thus, younger trees do much better after a chop. Here though is where your vision of how you want the tree to look comes into play. Young trees have very little taper built into them and the broom style dictates as near a perfectly straight trunk as possible - which pretty much eliminates multiple chops. You don't want a "soccer ball on top of a drinking straw" look, so you'll need to consider if a chop is appropriate based on the intended height of the tree and current trunk caliper.

As noted previous, late winter or early spring before bud movement is the best time to undertake the chop.

Did you understand that a little better?

Al

Please reference the following article by Brent Walston.

'For example, if you desire a three inch trunk, it makes little sense to make the first trunk cut until the stem has reached an inch and a half.'

David