acer rubrum, after trunk chop

noissee · 03-12-2008, 01:40 PM

the leaves have started opening up, so i figured now would be a good time to get some input. i was thinking the bottom left branch would be left for awhile to fatten up the trunk, does this technique work well with acers?

noissee · 03-12-2008, 01:40 PM

sorry i forgot to link the pic:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/Image049.jpg

T.S.Wheeler · 03-12-2008, 08:17 PM

I have only just bought my first Japanese Red Maple, so I don't have any direct experience with them, But I'm pretty sure this is a common technique--I think its called a sacrafice branch. One thing I would worry about; Chuck Ware, an accomplished bonsai nursery man in central Texas, told me that maples are slow to heal, if they heal at all. I imagine this is mainly true of larger branches. So I probably wouldn't let your sacrifice branch get too big as you would then have to deal with an unsightly scar. But as I said, I have no experience with maples, so I guess I'm also waiting to hear others' advice.

You've got a nice root flare going so far, and a good thick trunk!
Travis

noissee · 03-13-2008, 10:08 AM

yeah i have used sacrifice branch on a pine, but i was unsure if it would work with maple. we shall see. it's kinda discouraging to hear that a maple might not heal. the chop is pretty nasty. the good thing is that there is a bud just under the chop line on the left side. you can't see it in the photo.

T.S.Wheeler · 03-13-2008, 09:15 PM

Hm. I hope someone with experience says something; I'm curious to know more about this myself. I know I've heard of maples getting chopped, and I know they heal--very slowly (to some degree at least), but I don't know what time of year or under what conditions to chop. I think part of the art of creating bonsai with maples is hiding scars or incorporating them into the design. I wouldn't worry too much about the chop you did, it looks like you did a good job, and the scar will be to the back (if it does scar) I should probably just shut up until someone else says something since I really know nothing

.

Travis

noissee · 03-24-2008, 03:41 PM

so this tree is poppin buds all over the place, i'm very happy with the locations too. any suggestions? ideas?

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/Image051.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/Image052.jpg
this is a close-up where you can see the buds comin out. i find a new one almost every other day

03-12-2008, 01:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
noissee Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: florida panhandle Posts: 206	acer rubrum, after trunk chop the leaves have started opening up, so i figured now would be a good time to get some input. i was thinking the bottom left branch would be left for awhile to fatten up the trunk, does this technique work well with acers?

03-13-2008, 09:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
T.S.Wheeler Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fredericksburg, TX / Bryan, TX Posts: 55	Hm. I hope someone with experience says something; I'm curious to know more about this myself. I know I've heard of maples getting chopped, and I know they heal--very slowly (to some degree at least), but I don't know what time of year or under what conditions to chop. I think part of the art of creating bonsai with maples is hiding scars or incorporating them into the design. I wouldn't worry too much about the chop you did, it looks like you did a good job, and the scar will be to the back (if it does scar) I should probably just shut up until someone else says something since I really know nothing. Travis

03-24-2008, 03:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
noissee Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: florida panhandle Posts: 206	growth is good so this tree is poppin buds all over the place, i'm very happy with the locations too. any suggestions? ideas? http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/Image051.jpg http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/Image052.jpg this is a close-up where you can see the buds comin out. i find a new one almost every other day

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03-12-2008, 01:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
noissee Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: florida panhandle Posts: 206	sorry i forgot to link the pic: http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...1/Image049.jpg

03-12-2008, 08:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
T.S.Wheeler Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fredericksburg, TX / Bryan, TX Posts: 55	I have only just bought my first Japanese Red Maple, so I don't have any direct experience with them, But I'm pretty sure this is a common technique--I think its called a sacrafice branch. One thing I would worry about; Chuck Ware, an accomplished bonsai nursery man in central Texas, told me that maples are slow to heal, if they heal at all. I imagine this is mainly true of larger branches. So I probably wouldn't let your sacrifice branch get too big as you would then have to deal with an unsightly scar. But as I said, I have no experience with maples, so I guess I'm also waiting to hear others' advice. You've got a nice root flare going so far, and a good thick trunk! Travis

03-13-2008, 10:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
noissee Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: florida panhandle Posts: 206	yeah i have used sacrifice branch on a pine, but i was unsure if it would work with maple. we shall see. it's kinda discouraging to hear that a maple might not heal. the chop is pretty nasty. the good thing is that there is a bud just under the chop line on the left side. you can't see it in the photo.

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