Airlayering a big field maple (acer campestre)

Hi

2011 i bought a big field maple on the exhibition in Hallein/Austria.



Here are some Pictures after defoliation in autumn 2011.









On this picture you can see the Problem. The tree has a inverse taper. If i cut the two old roots the tree has a ugly cut, that never heals. So the best is, i airlayer the tree.





It happens sometimes by airlayering on old trees, that they don´t make new roots the first year. So let´s see if he has done new roots.



As feared the tree only made callus but no roots. So this is not a problem he will make roots next year.

At controlling the tree in autumn 2013 he made new roots.



I hope that i can plant the tree in spring in a new pot.

This is the vision of this tree in a few years. I will cut back the crown of the right trunk if the tree is strong and healthy again.



I hope you enjoy.
Herbert Aigner

A another interesting post from you Herbert  

I will look forward to follow your tread, and see what you make of the good material.

Kind regards Yvonne

Interestingly, as all your work, congratulations!  

Can I ask where do you live in Austria? In which country? I attend a lot of the 'austria, Spittal, Villach, Klagenfurt, fantastic cities!  

Good work, Daniel  

Thank you for your comments.

Your compliments are a Little bit too early. The tree is only at the beginning of its development.

@ Daniel
I am from Salzburg.

regards
Herbert

Thanks Herbert, also large and beautiful city of Salzburg, sometimes I go to visit her.  

I wish you a good bonsai,  

hello Daniel  

it is time for a update.

In spring 2014, two years after beginning to airlayer this tree, it is time to have a look if the tree made enough new roots. And if he made them arround the trunk.



What a surprise. It seems as if the tree made not enough roots.

Take away the soil. Ok, good tree. This are enough roots. On the soil a made a plastic so that the new roots cann not grow between the old one.
Now i know it was a good idea.



After washing out the roots i was satisfied.



Now i could cut some old roots.

With the saw I could not continue . I would have demaged too many new roots.



So i had to remove the Wood with a machine.


Now the trunk is flat on the bottom and the tree can be planted in an pot.



I think this are really enough roots :-)



The tree fixed in a Mica-Pot.



be continued

In Summer 2014 the tree did not grow very well. It was the first year after removing de airlayering. And the summer 2014 was very very wet in Austria. A lot of rain during the whole summer. So the tree had also two times problems with fungus.

So i let him another year in the Mica-Pot. Hope i can plant him next year in an nice pot.

But the tree is so healthy that i can make further steps to make a bonsai.

November 2014




January 2015


Time to wire and make the deadwood.






The top




Reduce the right trunk.



Acer campestre. Hight 80 cm.



Hope you enjoy it

Herbert Aigner

Wow, this is coming along nicely. Well done. In very few years this will be worthy of exhibition.

This looks really good. {giving me hope for my fall-collected stump}

I've just posted a question about doing something very similar to an old yew. You have inspired me! Thank you.

@ Leo The way to a Exhibition takes a long time. :-) But the frist steps are done.

Thank you for the time spent putting the entire sequence together. It is a nice learning tool.

Hi Herbert

Good job so far

Kind regards Yvonne

In March 2015 it was time to repot the tree and to select the roots. Too much roots dont make a good nebari.





So the first important steps are done. Now the time works to make a good Bonsai of this Acer.



Hope you enjoy.
Herbert Aigner

very informative progression !!!

I really like this progression series. I normally give up on an air layer on maples after one year. I now know differently. Also, I like your setup with the plastic pot/ring. I've never seen that before. I have a Zelkova that I plan on setting up just like this in the spring. Thanks!

Steve