New tree, beginner needing help

I found this tree in my yard and I was wondering what you thought of it. Also, what would be next into making this (or can this be made) into a bonsai..? Thanks for your interest!

Japanese maples are good trees to make bonsai, but this tree needs to add some age and forth before training can really begin. My advice would be to get it back in the ground next spring and grow it out a couple years before chopping back.

If it was found in your yard, is there a larger Japanese maple throwing out seedlings? If so, you are lucky and should have plenty of free material to work on in the future.

tmmason10 wrote:this tree needs to add some age and forth before training can really begin. My advice would be to get it back in the ground next spring and grow it out a couple years before chopping back.

This is also my(somewhat inexperienced) opinion too. The trunk will thicken much more quickly if left in the ground, and it reduces the costs in time, effort, and materials that you will spend on the tree. If you decide to keep it potted, I would consider getting it into some free draining bonsai soil whenever it's safe.

If you disregard previous advice, dig down to the first sign of side rooting then cut the tree back to a height suitable to the thickness of the trunk. Then fertilize heavily and wait for new side branching to develop. That should keep you busy for a year. I wouldn't wait any longer to do this this year as it's already late in the season.

Cutting thicker trunks, as in putting it in the ground and chop in a few years, can cause unsightly scars as Japanese maples tend to callous heavily. Should you decide to go the ground route I would still cut back now in order to develop trunk movement and lower side branching.

Good growing!