Quick comment - if it sprouted from the root, below the original graft, I imagine it's a black gum, but it is not a ''Wildfire.' Just be aware.

Congrats.s on the tree's come back. I cut down a small golden tree due to an attack by granulated ambrosia beetles, and recently noticed it's putting out from the stump (multiple shoots), so your post about your black gum caught my eye.

Richard.

No root pruning. I'd let any shoots that arise this season grow - all leaf surface is a 'factory' making food to build reserves for next year's growth... then, before it initiates growth again next spring, prune out all but the one strongest/most vigorous shoot.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/1651779/dormant-bud-attachement-strength-on-4ft-tall-tree

Nyssa are fussy transplants for me. Usually winter gets mine though. I probably waited too long to trim minee back to one stem.

Thanks everyone! Here is an image of the tree before I cut it to the ground. What do you think? Verticillum wilt? The leaves up top started to wilt off, and slowly the branches died one by one, further and further down the trunk. Or what else might it be?

Also interesting point about it possibly being grafted, drrich. I didn't notice a graft mark at the base and assumed it was from seed. I am not seeing the vibrant red color on the new shoots however, so you're probably right.

My bet is on transplant shock if it is growing back strongly.

Toro, that thread answered a lot of long-term planning questions. And the yearly photos showing recovery over time from 2011-2015? That's my kinda crazy! Did you get good growth this spring, too?

Yeah, its growing well. The late frost or freeze that tinged alot of other trees did not bother it.

When you think about pruning post close ups on here and see what angles you should take. I could have done better. Mine has a fat ugly half stump it is still encapsulating.

Update! This thing came back like nobody's business. It's 3' tall, and last fall it had spectacular color! This spring I'll cut off all the side branches to force upward growth. Thanks everyone!

Sounds like a success story. I missed this thread the first time around — good stuff.

So you guys really think it's time to cut off all the side branches and leave nothing but a trunk? I'm sure this would encourage upward growth and I know the branches are way too low right now. But I do want to check before I do anything too drastic.

A recent picture would sure help.

Raising the crown is something you want to do over time. Let the tree grow and express itself a bit, leaving some lower branches to feed the trees root system. Shortening some of the lower branches so they don't take over is fine. You could remove some of the lower most braches this spring, then more next year as the top increases.

Also keep 'structure pruning' in mind as time goes on.

I did mine a little slower than necessary I fear. Generally don't take off more than 1/4 of the buds.

Young trees build root systems for the first several years. I'm a firm believer in having as many leaves as possible. After all, it's the leaves that produce what the roots need to grow.

I gave two solid years for leaf growth...time to prune. I pruned him back to three higher scaffolds, plus the central leader. (Couldn't hack out all side branching.) You can see nubs where I took out some branches below. Still plenty of buds on central leader. Lets see what happens! Will post photos as time goes on.

I'd take about half off those lateral branches. Then take the rest off next year. That helps increase trunk girth faster than just pruning them off flush now. It also creates more of a branch collar that will close faster and cleaner next year. There's plenty of structure pruning documentation on the internet but it's your tree so you can do what you want.

love it. Will do, and will continue to post images. Thanks all!

Is anyone still reading this? I bought a black gum about 3 ft tall about 6 yrs and have been gradually pruning off branches as it grows. Not every year - I wait until it has a proportionately nice crown and until I can keep the bottom of the crown even. It is now about 10 ft tall with a beautiful crown. This year I notice that it has 3 clusters of root sprouts, growing about 2 ft from the tree - beyond that the lawn is being mowed. I've seen this on wild trees as well - is there a way to stop it?

How did you acidify your your soil?

Elemental sulfur from amazon. Came in a 20 lb