AusBonsai

Below is a sketch of an ash (Fraxinus excelsior) I'm hoping to get in the next few days (if all goes well) It is about 10 ft high and about 10 cm across the base. Can I do 2 airlayers on it at the same time as shown on the picture. Also when is best to set the layer, can I do it now, it is just starting to sprout new leaves. The top splits into 2 main branches with a smaller 3rd shoot (about 10cm long) in the middle as shown which would create a new leader and some good taper. This would make 1 tree. I want to use the base if it will grow new shoots after having the top layered off. I would plant the middle part of the trunk and see what it does.
Any advice welcome. Josh

here is a shot of the bark

I would wait until it warms up - the air layer won't do anything when it's too cold. You can do more than one at a time - but I like to have foliage on each part that is being air layered.

Thanks Bougy, I must learn patience . It is bursting new growth now so will wait till it warms up a bit, could be waiting a long time for that in Melbourne

Josh

You can do several Layers on the one tree, but only if you have foliage between them
The sketch shows only trunk between them so no 2 will not work.

do the first (top) one this year, and then next year you will have new shoots that will drive the ne roots on the second layer

Ken

kcpoole wrote:You can do several Layers on the one tree, but only if you have foliage between them
The sketch shows only trunk between them so no 2 will not work.

do the first (top) one this year, and then next year you will have new shoots that will drive the ne roots on the second layer

Ken

Thanks ken. Yes I will need to get it to bud back on the trunk so I will take the top off then go from there. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with a newby guys

Josh

It may well shoot lower down before you do the air layers - then you can do 2 or as many as you like Not being a mexican I am not sure of your weather, but i would think September might be a good time ? Ken will be in a better position to advise you. Air layers slow down the development of the tree - you usually end losing a year so best to do them all in one year. When you get too many trees you wont bother and just cut back to what you want to use

as Bougy says, you may be lucky when you put the top one on

ken