Acer Ginnala Clump [#2]

[MACH5]

This amur maple was given to me for free a few years ago when I purchased my other one [http://bonsainut.com/index.php?threads/acer-ginnala-styled.18951/]. The former owner at the time didn't know what to do with it so he gave it to me to play with. For its final design I opted to keep the tree short and compact. I was aiming for shohin size but most likely it may end up a bit larger since it is already 10" tall. It has a base of about 5" all around.

Thus far I have just grown it and cut it back every year. It sat in a corner of my garden being only watered, pruned occasionally and fertilized. No wiring has yet been done or any attempt at even finding a front. This year I have been a bit more interested in it and started looking at different front options. I will be able to tell much better next spring when I repot it and take a look at the roots. No doubt that a smaller container will make the base look really powerful. I also plan to carve out the old big cuts so that they look more natural and blend better with the whole tree.

Below is how the maple looked a couple of weeks ago.






Today it was cut back and defoliated. I will leave it now to grow freely again for the rest of the year. Below are a couple of different views of it.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Nice! Free makes it even better. I must say, that sure is an interesting nursery pot. Looks like a 15 galloner that got squashed.

 

[JudyB]

So far I like pic 1 for front, but think I'd take the left front trunk off at that point. Lots to play with here, should be interesting.

 

[fredtruck]

This tree has interesting potential. I don't recall ever seeing a triple trunk tree with such thick trunks.

 

[MACH5]

Nice! Free makes it even better. I must say, that sure is an interesting nursery pot. Looks like a 15 galloner that got squashed.

Yes I folded down the pot in order to get a better view of the tree

So far I like pic 1 for front, but think I'd take the left front trunk off at that point. Lots to play with here, should be interesting.

Yes I agree Judy. That view seems to have some nice movement. Who knows, after the repot next spring I may even change the planting angle and the tree may completely change.

The challenge with that left trunk is that is actually two trunks that have come together. I may have to do some carving in that area to reduce the volume hopefully while making it all look natural.

This tree has interesting potential. I don't recall ever seeing a triple trunk tree with such thick trunks.

Fred yes I think it has nice potential. Like many other trees it does come with some challenges. It is indeed a very chunky tree! A bit tough to tell from the pics.

 

[barrosinc]

seems like a hard one!!
where is the virt you always add??

 

[MACH5]

seems like a hard one!!
where is the virt you always add??

Not sure Max but I honestly don't think it will be that hard to make a believable bonsai out this piece of material. Didn't want to make a virt just yet since so much will depend on what I find underneath. Once I do next year I will add one

 

[barrosinc]

Not sure Max but I honestly don't think it will be that hard to make a believable bonsai out this piece of material.

I kinda guess it won't for you.

BTW pic 1 seems like the front.

 

[PiñonJ]

I like pic 2 for clump style.

 

[MACH5]

I like pic 2 for clump style.

I also like this view since you can see all trunks clearly. Not as a much movement as view 1 but I also think when is wired it can be greatly enhanced.

 

[0soyoung]

Today it was cut back and defoliated.

I am curious, Mach, why you chose to do this, as opposed to hedge pruning or cutting back to two leafs, say?

 

[Cypress187]

Isn't defoiliation for bonsai in his endstage, i thought you first needed prim/sec/3th branches first, well it's fun and cool so i would also just do it

 

[MACH5]

I am curious, Mach, why you chose to do this, as opposed to hedge pruning or cutting back to two leafs, say?

Who says I didn't! Everything was cut back to first node in 7 seconds

Isn't defoiliation for bonsai in his endstage, i thought you first needed prim/sec/3th branches first, well it's fun and cool so i would also just do it

Yes it sure is. In this case I made it part of my opening game. What I'm looking for is to force the tree to bud back even more aggressively than by just cutting it back. I want lots of options specially along the trunks for later on. I will not do this again (if ever) until much later once the design is stablished. It also of course offered me the opportunity to see the tree clearly to hopefully start making some decisions.

 

[JudyB]

I also think that with Amur, you can be far more aggressive than with other maples. They are like weeds, and by being mean to them, they will respond with more vigor.

 

[MACH5]

I also think that with Amur, you can be far more aggressive than with other maples. They are like weeds, and by being mean to them, they will respond with more vigor.

I stopped short of going over it with a lawnmower

 

[JudyB]

Oh, that picture didn't load for me the first time,- priceless! Next up you could do the Dan R. chainsaw routine...

 

[fredtruck]

I always favor the heavy industry approach to bonsai. None of this delicate snipping stuff. Why use one foot pound of force when you can use a ton?

 

[barrosinc]

It took longer to put on gloves, protective glasses, plug the hedge pruner... than actually cutting it!
It kinda feels like when I used to go backcountry snowboarding... a day to get there, 10 minute ride down.

 

[LanceMac10]

Backcountry in Chile?!?! Must be epic. Lived in Colorado, usa for a spell, not sure backcountry there quite the same!! Close, maybe. Mountaineering skills FAR behind 'board skills!!

 

[KennedyMarx]

I'm interested in seeing how much this thing grew after you hedged it back. Plus I'm curious as to what you'll do with it. Clumps are hard to wrap my head around. I haven't seen many bonsai in that style in person and most trees around here don't grow that way.