Creating taper on collected cypress
The following photographs show a technique I tried for the quick development of taper on a collected Cypress that had been lopped off about 3 feet above its basal roots.
Note to Rodney Clemens describing the technique I planned to try
Collected stump after being allowed to grow out
Showing top surface of original cut
Marking A (for front),B (for back),1 (for number one branch) and 2 (for number two branch) .
Larger sketch of planned architecture for the final tree
Holding clippings up where apex branch and other branches will sprout from
Marking the trunk where cuts will be made
Alex using skill saw to cut out sections of trunk creating shelves where new branches will sprout
Alex using wood chisel to remove the section of trunk
Shelves created in the trunk indicating were branches will sprout
Alex Long and I with trunk reduction under way
Study group members placing clippings where new shoots are anticipated
Branches sprouting from the cambium of cut shelves
Only in one place did a branch sprout somewhere other than the cut shelves
New branches along reduced taper in trunk
Allowed to grow out again
Apex quadrant of trunk branching out
Less foliage showing developing structure
Before carving down shelves
Alex smoothing down remains of initial shelves
Sketch (A) of planned tree
Sketch (B) of planned tree
I would encourage others to try this technique and share results with each other
Still a ways to go but Alex says that the tree is doing well
