9 years work on a acer palmatum

Hi,

I bought this acer 3years ago in a gardencenter, when it was 2,5m high.
The tree was shortened, and planted in a big pot to give it it's 1st shape.
Several entings were made at the roots and true the trunk.(all are now ok and sepparated from the mother twigs/plants)
The tree is now 80cm tall, and will be moving nex year to a suitable pot.
Wounds are closing and the shape becomes better every year ( i think);-)
All suggestions, reactions are very welcome.

greetzz














an finally some picture from this week after shortening the very large (3Meter) topleader)

Is this a Fat Boy wearing Vance & Hines pipes I see before me?

Yep, it is..altough this one is sold, my new one has Martin Brothers shockwaves...


an item on the wrong forum

I was wondering how he managed to prune the bike out of the tree!

Trust HR to go totally off topic!

Nice bike but back to the Maple, seems like you are using all the right techniques for development. The long extension growths will be helping close scars and the thread graft apears to be putting a branch in low down on the left. I do wonder if you really needed one that low?

It certainly looks very healthy and has the potential to become a very nice tree in future.

Are you going to air layer the top off in future?

The low branch you can see on the right, and who's going to the left is not a graft...its a branch that i let grow, to increase the branchdiameter at the base.
This twig is only bended to the rear, and can grow there another year before i cut it.
The top will not be airlayered, the new trunkleader will also grow for a year ore 2 before i cut it...

Kev do you think i should shorten the top?

This might look a little drastic but i would chop/ air layer here. The movement above is a little uninteresting and unbalanced. You obviously have the ability to grow a new top in a very short time.

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The low branch you can see on the right, and who's going to the left is not a graft...its a branch that i let grow, to increase the branchdiameter at the base.

Ah, I see, that's good.

I would consider layering or chopping the top, next spring, where Will suggests or perhaps just a little higher. Given the vigour of your tree, and a few well placed sacrifice extensions, it should close a well carved scar in a few years and would eventually be almost invisible.

I agree with Kev and Bill, this is where I would chop the top, somewhere between the two red lines, the lower one looking the best to me. Even if there aren't any branches there, I'm certain that with the knowledge of the techniques you're showing here, you will be able to see if you can use a branch we can't see on the photo, or if there is a place on the trunk where it will backbud.

Very nice tree, and excellent work so far, in my opinion.

The diameter of the trunk, above my suggested cut looks the same as below the cut. Another reason i chose this position is the choise of new leader. By directing the top of the tree to the left a sense of balance will be achieved. The higher advice throws the top further to the right.

will baddeley wrote:The diameter of the trunk, above my suggested cut looks the same as below the cut. Another reason i chose this position is the choise of new leader. By directing the top of the tree to the left a sense of balance will be achieved. The higher advice throws the top further to the right.

I admit that after reading your explanation, I've changed my mind

I know the top of this tree isn't perfect, and i also considered to cut it a little lower.
There's a little more movement in this top then the pics show...therefore 'll post a few more pics...
I really can't cut the trunk at the place Will suggest....because all previous work will be gon...
In future i'll eventually cut the top a little lower then it is now.
Please take a look at this new pics....and let me know ......cut....or not....???? ;-)
Is'nt it possible to keep the top..as it is now??is this top useless ?

THX for your advice.

Great work thoughtfully considered over the three years of development.

As for the top, do not waste the work, air layer and make a shohin!

I did a little top chop this morning....
In my opinion the tree looks much better now.
I don't think i'll make a lower chop.....for now, i'll wait and see what future brings.

excelent work, i like it
you have best technique with acer palmatum tree!!!
regards

Maybe in future i can try to make something like in this virt, i made....????

Hi, do you still have this tree? What happened to it after 2009?

Hi,

Yes i still have this maple and it's progressing fine....
I'll post some pics later today or tomorrow.. :-)

thx for your interest.

regards

The last years i lowered the top a little more, put it in a smaller pot and did some work on the branches to  make this plant to a bonsai.....i am glad to see some progression over the years .. :-)

WOW! Thanks for the pictures ) its huge! I love the nebari    such a natural feel to it

THX,
The nebari isn't perfect....but it's fun to see that grafted roots are growing well and become better every year.
The small wound at the lower left side is from another grafted root on the backside of the tree and its closing well...

This tree has a long way to go....but i enjoy every minute with it..

I see now there are 2 topics started abouth my tree...i, forgot    
https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t11943p30-7-years-work-on-a-acer-palmatum-obtained-from-a-garden-center#124722

WOW, totally misjudged the size of this beast. I was expecting a trunk half the size! Makes your work even more impressive!