Not sure what to think of the Amur maple...

Cadillactaste

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Well...it seemed to bud out weird. Not sure if the left side is weak...or what. It budded from the far right branch working its way around to the left. The first left branch has yet to show buds. So...I'm going to just take it easy on the tree this year. And just offer it horticulture care in case it needs to be stronger before I chop. Plans on cutting back next spring if it buds out better for me.

I didn't even slip pot it. But filled bonsai soil in around the cut down gallon nursery pot it was in. To keep it stable and raise it a bit in this pot. Offering it a more finished look.

image.jpg
 

Cadillactaste

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I can't help it... I would do something like this and also bring it about 20 - 30 degrees to the right. Crude, but it's just what I see.

View attachment 99598
You mean turning the pot to the right a few degrees...or potting it angle change in direction it's potted slanting it slightly? With it budding out weird...I'm doing nothing drastic this year. The branch second from the left is just now budding out. And the far left...still dead in the water doing nothing.

Thanks for the virtual...I'm always open for ideas to chew over.
 

Cadillactaste

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Change the planting angle: (I don't know how to do it in paint)

View attachment 99604

Shoot...that's something I might be able to do now...with it in that oversized pot. It's still in its cut down nursery pot. I raised it with substrate.

On my edit on my iPad...it lets me tilt photos. This is at 30 degrees angle.
image.jpg
 

MACH5

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Darlene I would leave as is for this year. Don't do any styling and then think about new planting angle, etc next year depending on its health. I think the pot is too big so be careful with how much it is watered. I see buds on the left but on a healthy tree it should be budding more evenly.

Do make sure your soil is open and fast draining and the tree is placed in full sun during springtime. Later it should get a bit more shade.
 

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You have pics of the other sides? Or are they too bad for a possible (new) front?
 

Cadillactaste

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Darlene I would leave as is for this year. Don't do any styling and then think about new planting angle, etc next year depending on its health. I think the pot is too big so be careful with how much it is watered. I see buds on the left but on a healthy tree it should be budding more evenly.

Do make sure your soil is open and fast draining and the tree is placed in full sun during springtime. Later it should get a bit more shade.
Darlene I would leave as is for this year. Don't do any styling and then think about new planting angle, etc next year depending on its health. I think the pot is too big so be careful with how much it is watered. I see buds on the left but on a healthy tree it should be budding more evenly.

Do make sure your soil is open and fast draining and the tree is placed in full sun during springtime. Later it should get a bit more shade.


Thanks for your suggested advice on how to proceed...I've not even slip potted it. It's in the pot it arrived in. I just added bonsai substrate to this pot that does have a hole in the bottom. To hide the black plastic trimmed down nursery pot. The substrate around pot is fast draining...but would imagine it would not effect the roots or watering overly. Just a light skim coat of it over the surface of what was already in the pot. Thus...Pulling it out of this planter...and dumping out the substrate...sitting down gallon nursery pot in at an angle alightly trimming the nursery pot on the left side...and filling with substrate was all I did. Not touching anything of the soil what so ever,nor touching or messing with the roots...nor cutting anything on the tree. As I was advised to see how healthy it budded out. When it budded out weird...It concerned me. Not doing anything but offering horticultural care until it appears to bud out more evenly hopefully next spring.
 

Vin

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Really "dumb" question...should I be offering it fertilizer now?
Sergio is a master with maples and his statements suggest your Amur is less than healthy. Maple or not, my experiences have not been favorable when fertilizing unhealthy trees. Let it build vigor or risk possible loss.
 

Vin

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FYI, The weather this year has had a profound effect on my trees. I have maples covered in leaves and some that only just now have swelling buds and tomorrow is April! I have a Bald Cypress in full leaf and two others that are only just showing a hint of green on the branches. I could list many other examples as well. My point is, your Amur may be a victim of the weather as well if your winter has been as odd as mine.
 

Cadillactaste

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Sergio is a master with maples and his statements suggest your Amur is less than healthy. Maple or not, my experiences have not been favorable when fertilizing unhealthy trees. Let it build vigor or risk possible loss.
Yes, that was my thoughts as well. But, was curious do I go all season without fertilizing? Or wait until it picks up vigor?

I also feel it may very well do with the temps...My cherry isn't as vigorous as well this spring. Leaving the greenhouse door open during strong winds as I took sheets out to cover things in the landscape...Ruined what blooms it did have.
 

Vin

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Yes, that was my thoughts as well. But, was curious do I go all season without fertilizing? Or wait until it picks up vigor?

I also feel it may very well do with the temps...My cherry isn't as vigorous as well this spring. Leaving the greenhouse door open during strong winds as I took sheets out to cover things in the landscape...Ruined what blooms it did have.
As it picks up and starts to really put on some leaves you could start with some very diluted liquid fert and see how it responds.
 

MACH5

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Sergio is a master with maples and his statements suggest your Amur is less than healthy. Maple or not, my experiences have not been favorable when fertilizing unhealthy trees. Let it build vigor or risk possible loss.


Yes I agree. Fertilizer will not make a sickly tree healthy.
 

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@MACH5 ...Sergio...So, when June starts to become hot...move it to another location in the yard. Gotcha! For my Kojo No Mai is like that as well. Leaf burn if not...

Yes you can move it to a location of bright shade. Direct sun specially early in the day is fine.


EDIT: I don't think your tree is necessarily unhealthy. Give it some time and a chance to bud out. Sometimes we loose branches in trees and that's just nature and not due to any health issues. I don't think we should jump too quickly with a diagnosis.
 
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Cadillactaste

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Yes you can move it to a location of bright shade. Direct sun specially early in the day is fine.


EDIT: I don't think your tree is necessarily unhealthy. Give it some time and a chance to bud out. Sometimes we loose branches in trees and that's just nature and not due to any health issues. I don't think we should jump too quickly with a diagnosis.
Thanks! My two benches both qualify...first early spring...then the other later on. Thanks again. And no fertilizer...until it regains its vigor.
 

rockm

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Thanks for your suggested advice on how to proceed...I've not even slip potted it. It's in the pot it arrived in. I just added bonsai substrate to this pot that does have a hole in the bottom. To hide the black plastic trimmed down nursery pot. The substrate around pot is fast draining...but would imagine it would not effect the roots or watering overly. Just a light skim coat of it over the surface of what was already in the pot. Thus...Pulling it out of this planter...and dumping out the substrate...sitting down gallon nursery pot in at an angle alightly trimming the nursery pot on the left side...and filling with substrate was all I did. Not touching anything of the soil what so ever,nor touching or messing with the roots...nor cutting anything on the tree. As I was advised to see how healthy it budded out. When it budded out weird...It concerned me. Not doing anything but offering horticultural care until it appears to bud out more evenly hopefully next spring.

I wouldn't do anything to this right now designwise. It's weak and you're losing the left side as the budding there is not very strong. I've seen that kind of weak initial budding just before one of mine drops a branch.

FWIW, The black plastic nursery pot should have been removed and the plant repotted in late Feb. or so when the buds started moving. The shari is evidence this tree has been weak for a long time, probably since its trunk was initially broken. Since amur tend to throw out extremely vigorous shoots after such injuries, the thin branching here says the tree wasn't allowed to grow enough to recover, with someone trimming away the growth that would help it do so.
 
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