My Arakawa

sikadelic · Mar 16, 2015

Hey guys. I picked up this Arakawa Maple last year and did no work to it whatsoever and just fed it and let it grow. I want to get to work on this guy but I am having trouble choosing a front as well as deciding where to chop it.

It has a great root spread already and I am very pleased with where it is at now. I think it can be a really nice tree.

One view utilizes the secondary trunk and the other does not. If I use the secondary trunk then I am losing a bit of nebari width. If I turn it and use the front with the widest nebari that secondary trunk is to the rear of the tree and will be removed. The downside to that is the tree is completely straight from that view. I really dont mind that and actually like formal upright trees and would have to style it in that manner. The other view gives me a little (but not much) more movement.

I have indicated where I plan to cut back to depending on which front I choose. Please give me your opinions and help me decide. Thanks.

http://imgur.com/a/2o2xG <---- Link to pics since I am still having upload issues.

Brian Van Fleet · Mar 16, 2015

Here's what I'd do, if I wasn't in a hurry.

Thread-graft a new leader into the small trunk (blue), and in a year or so, chop the main trunk (red). After the new grafted leader is strong, remove everything above it, and develop a nice, low spreading twin trunk with a killer base.

This tree has a great base and lower trunk, but you need to address the lack of movement and taper first before you build branches, or you'll regret it eventually...sooner than later, I suspect.

sikadelic · Mar 16, 2015

Brian, thanks for taking the time to do that. To be honest, I hadn't thought of that approach. I am in no hurry with this tree so that is very doable. I will stare at it a bit more and keep scratching my chin. I will make my move this upcoming weekend at the latest.

I also did not plan on repotting this year so I could do some heavy work on it before it continues in a direction that I dont want.

sorce · Mar 17, 2015

Wicked Base on this one!

I'd go with BVF's suggestion, if at least to prevent a rash on your chin!

You want a pickle?

Sorce

JoeR · Mar 17, 2015

What a great 'pick up'!

I've been looking for one and am curious where you got this tree from.

I personally like maples that are a bit more feminine and elegant, meaning less drastic taper, more subtle movement, etc. But I also like BVFs idea. So I think either way you style this it will one day be a very nice tree.

An example:

Brian Van Fleet · Mar 17, 2015

sikadelic said:
Brian, thanks for taking the time to do that. To be honest, I hadn't thought of that approach. I am in no hurry with this tree so that is very doable.

Been going through some of it with arakawa air layers in my back yard over the last couple years. The tall one has great roots, but needs lower branches. I accidentally severed one of the thread grafts last year (ugghhh!). The other one is still there.

The small twin trunk is likely to get similar treatment to what I sugested you do. Do it before the buds swell, and drill in the opposite direction you plan to thread the graft (your case, drill front to back).

sikadelic · Mar 17, 2015

JoeR said:
What a great 'pick up'!

I've been looking for one and am curious where you got this tree from.

I personally like maples that are a bit more feminine and elegant, meaning less drastic taper, more subtle movement, etc. But I also like BVFs idea. So I think either way you style this it will one day be a very nice tree.

An example:

Joe, I picked this up from Martin Sweeney. He was in the process of moving and needed to find new homes for some maples. I am not sure if he has any left but you could always check. I plan to take as many cuttings/layers as I can from this tree when the time is right.

sikadelic · Mar 17, 2015

Brian Van Fleet said:
Been going through some of it with arakawa air layers in my back yard over the last couple years. The tall one has great roots, but needs lower branches. I accidentally severed one of the thread grafts last year (ugghhh!). The other one is still there.

The small twin trunk is likely to get similar treatment to what I sugested you do. Do it before the buds swell, and drill in the opposite direction you plan to thread the graft (your case, drill front to back).

I had a few cups of coffee last night while scratching the chin. I think you are hitting the nail on the head with what I need to do here. It always helps so much to have somebody else bring a new eye to the project. I am glad that I asked before I started chopping away!

Also, why do you drill the opposite way when thread grafting? I don't think I have ever saw the distinction on direction before...just curious. Thanks again!

Brian Van Fleet · Mar 17, 2015

Exit wounds are messy.

sikadelic · Mar 17, 2015

I dont want to sacrifice a season by putting off that chop on the left in lieu of an air layer. I am sad to see it wasted though and may try rooting it. Do they respond well to cuttings?

Brian Van Fleet · Mar 17, 2015

Probably won't get something that thick to root, but from what I could see, you need to keep the left trunk this year anyway because the scion you need on the right trunk comes from the left one.

Although, you could always do an air layer higher up in the left trunk this year while you wait.

sikadelic · Mar 18, 2015

I think my picture is a little deceiving with the depth perception. The small scion you indicate is on a rear branch and isn't close to the smaller trunk as it appears in the picture. I am sure I can find one and make it stretch though. Thanks again for your guidance.

sikadelic · Mar 18, 2015

Air layer on the upper left trunk as well as a thread graft on the right trunk.

Now we wait.

sikadelic · May 9, 2015

Just an update on this tree...it is giving me fits. I checked the air layer about a week ago and saw it was not looking good. I had a black ring above my top cut so I took some larger cuttings to try and salvage it. I will not be using vermiculite again and will opt for perilite.

Also, this air layer has failed (the branch had died back from the winter but I didn't know it at the time). Once I saw it had failed, I tried again with a branch I was sure was alive. I trimmed the leaves off and tried again. The new one seems to have failed also....I have no idea what I am doing wrong but I'm not touching it anymore this year. I will try again next year.

Eric Group · May 9, 2015

sikadelic said:
Just an update on this tree...it is giving me fits. I checked the air layer about a week ago and saw it was not looking good. I had a black ring above my top cut so I took some larger cuttings to try and salvage it. I will not be using vermiculite again and will opt for perilite.

Also, this air layer has failed (the branch had died back from the winter but I didn't know it at the time). Once I saw it had failed, I tried again with a branch I was sure was alive. I trimmed the leaves off and tried again. The new one seems to have failed also....I have no idea what I am doing wrong but I'm not touching it anymore this year. I will try again next year.

In the second paragraph, you meant the thread graft failed, right?

That sucks man. I have only done one, on a "regular" JM, this year, but it seems to be doing fine! The branch leafed out and the leaves look the exact same as the rest of the tree.. But I wish the tree was growing a little faster. The leaves came out really small this year- not a bad thing for Bonsai obviously- but the branches are not gaining length rapidly like I am used to, especially with a tree that was just repotted/ moved to a pot from the ground which mine was. It isn't showing signs of stress, just not growing rapidly like I would want for the graft to take! I assume it is just getting used to the new pot, recovering from having a little hole drilled through it... Can't imagine why that might stress the tree!

sikadelic · May 9, 2015

Correct. I may have not worded it correctly but I tried one in the set of pics I shared. That one failed AND the new one I tried failed as well.

I only slip potted just to make sure the graft would have the best chance. This one has me stumped.

Eric Group · May 9, 2015

Well maybe you are right to just leave it alone for a while, let it get vigorous again and try a new graft next year! The layers can be done later too... I will try to get something in the mail to you soon that you can pick at if your hands get antsy!

sikadelic · May 8, 2016

Hey guys. Just wanted to update on this tree since I worked on it a bit this weekend. I was worried it wasn't going to pull through after all the die back it suffered. It seems to have rebounded really well and appreciated the rest and fertilizer last year.

I gave it a hard trim and used a zip tie to pull up that straight branch on the left trunk. Here's a before and after of the work on Friday.

Eric Group · May 8, 2016

sikadelic said:
Hey guys. Just wanted to update on this tree since I worked on it a bit this weekend. I was worried it wasn't going to pull through after all the die back it suffered. It seems to have rebounded really well and appreciated the rest and fertilizer last year.

I gave it a hard trim and used a zip tie to pull up that straight branch on the left trunk. Here's a before and after of the work on Friday.

Glad to see it made it through the Indiana Winter!

sikadelic · May 8, 2016

Eric Group said:
Glad to see it made it through the Indiana Winter!

Me too! I was worried for a bit but it seems to be doing great. I'm still a bit concerned with the roots since some of the bark flaked away from the nebari. I'm thinking some of the roots may have died as well but I won't know until I repot next year.

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