BIG Field Maple

Last summer I acquired this big Field Maple, it will be a very long term project for me :-)

The first photo is as it was last summer, the trunk mostly obscured by big masses of foliage.


I have repotted it into a plastic soil sieve, with a sheet of standard potting mesh over the rather open bottom.


A photo to show the shoots and branches sticking out every which way...


The very straight section at the top is surplus to requirements.


So here are the final photos (for now), almost everything came off. That way I can have full control over what grows where and in which direction. Providing buds pop where I want them too, that is

I have in mind to keep the rugged, knobbly trunk for the most part, with a big hollow or hollows extending from the top down.

I'm not sure yet whether to train branching downwards as in an old worn down tree, upward sweeping as in most deciduous trees or a combination of both.

This will be the biggest growing project I have yet undertaken, ALL help and advice is appreciated, comments and suggestions are welcomed.

View #1:


View #2:


View #3:


View #4:

Some inspiration and ideas for possible features from my flickr account...

The second pic is what I would choose for a front.I have found with Field Maple, it is a good idea to leave as many branches on the tree as possible, as it helps in reducing internode length. Too few branches and those branches become too strong and send out vigourous growth. Pay attention, to reducing side growth, while you develope a new top. Let the top go for a couple of seasons, then cut back and regrow.

I agree with wil on pic 2 as the front it has the best movement and nebari from what I can see. When you say field maple I assume it is a. campestre?

Hi Chris,
I liked photos 2 or 3 for your field maple. Here are a couple of shots of my newly aquired Amur Maple which has some of the characteristics that you were talking about for your field maple. I understand from the previous owner that it too has long internodes and is tricky to get good ramification.
Cheers and good luck with your tree.
Graham

Will, so now I've cut it all off you're telling me I need to keep as many branches on as possible

Do I necessarily need to keep internodes down at this stage? will it not just bud out at wherever I cut the new branch back too?

I don't have a huge amount of experience with this species so any help or advice is appreciated.

Seth, yes, Acer campestre.

Graham, impressive tree, thanks for the photos.

Chris.

Chris. You will probably find this puppy will pop buds everywhere anyway. Any new shoots will grow extremely rapidly, with internodes up to 3" long. Pruning back will only produce buds at internodes, unless it is an older branch, which will produce adventitious shoots. The problems I mention are not quite so important as you have quite a large tree and can get away with greater internode length.

Hi Chris.

You have a great base tree.
A. campestre is very suitable tree. Just be honest cut branches. Only then will reach a short internode. Principle grow and editing. Branches must be half-timber. Then cut.Remove the growth of large leaves of the tree. Will be more light.
Remember now, in the spring to spray fungicides against mildew. Acer campestre is prone.
my A.campestre - spring 2008

October 2009


Pavel

more pict.: http://www.bonsaivigi.cz/fotoalbum/tvarovani-a-vyvoj---styling-and-development/javor-babyka-_acer-campestre_---rijen-2007

Pavel, thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

You have a wonderful tree, thanks for the pictures.

My tree is pushing shoots out all over the place now, I have plenty of choice for branches.

Chris.

Hi Chris,

That's a wonderful trunk you have there.. I have two field maples myself. In my experience field maples do bud easily on old wood. The problem is indeed to get fine ramification because of the very long internodes. Also one of my field maples has only one flush of growth every year. The other one has a second one too. The second flush of growth gives much shorter internodes and therefore finer ramification. I still haven't found out where the difference between the trees comes from. I got them at the same time, they stand next to each other, get the same food, water, pruning, etcetera. If anyone can enlighten me... ?
I saw one field maple at the last Noelanders trophee that had very fine ramification, so it seems that it IS possible...

Good luck!!!

René

Hello René
Maybe a hybrid with the Acer monspessulanum, because he made a push in the year. How are the leaves

Hi Pascal,

I can't be 100% sure but I think they are the same species because they came from the same hedge..

Thanks! René

Hello René, nice to hear from you again.

Interesting to hear about your two field maples being so different. I grew a flowerpot full of seedlings a while back, all the seeds were collected from the same parent tree. One of the seedlings was a rogue, with a markedly different leaf shape and size to the rest. Another field maple bonsai I have is different again to all the others I have seen.

I think the species in general must just be variable.

Chris.

Hi Chris,

Field Maples obviously have a character of their own... On the other hand, they are very strong, respond well to root pruning and wiring and the leave shape and color is wonderful. Especially in spring. I enjoy working with them very much and I'm sure you will have a lot of fun growing this big guy.

grtz, René

Same for me, I like the Acer campestris. In France we begin to see bonsai.

Thank you Pascal

Treebeard wrote:

(...) I think the species in general must just be variable.

Chris.

I also have seedlings with rather noticeable differences too, all from my garden. I even thought one was a hybrid of some sort, but I now think it's simply a variation.

Like any other tree, the more it is watered and fertilized, the bigger the leaves and the longer the internodes. So if you can protect it from the rain and control the amount of water it gets, you can build a more compact structure.