| [College of ACES] | [University of Illinois] | [Illinois CES] |
No direct experience with Araucaria araucana but a lot of observations of other local Araucaria spp. eg Hoop Pines and Bunya Pines - similar growth habit and form to Monkey Puzzels.
Good luck - there is not much you can do that won't make it look as though it has been lopped (topped) unless it has the sometimes typical co-dominant leaders.
Observation: After a few years - in fact quite a few, after the laterals have become "clumped" below the cut, one or two laterals may become dominant but it will be an odd shape. This doesn't always appear to happen though.
I would be interested if anyone has had more positive success than this.
Regards,
Garry Clubley
Consulting Arborist
Sydney
Australia