Unidentified J. Maple

This is a rescued tree. As far as I can see no graft appears.
I root pruned last October and since then I have made some more branch pruning.
My project is to make two or three air layers at appropriate branches on top and after removing them (if successful) to chop the tree low (either double trunk or single).
My concern/question : Does it matter that the lower part will have only few branches/foliage?
I mean will the air layers be fed sufficiently enough?

As far as I know the portion with foliage above the air layers will feed the layer below it enough to put out roots.
The portion below will continue to feed off the foliage below the air layers.

So long as you don't cut ALL the foliage off after removing the layers it should be ok. The less foliage left after the layered sections are removed the more stress the tree will be under to replace the lost parts. If you removed the layers then cut below the lowest remaining branches you stand a good chance of killing it I think, unless you did a low chop in a year or two when it's had a chance to regenerate some energy stores.

This may not be completely accurate so I'd get a second opinion from mine

I think this is pretty much the information you're asking for... air layering before trunk chopping.

@Dav4 was just talking about successful multilayer.....

But ID needed first I reckon.

Nice!

Sorce

Cattwooduk said:

I think this is pretty much the information you're asking for... air layering before trunk chopping... ...

Click to expand...

Yes, indeed! Thank you very much!

sorce said:

@Dav4... ...But ID needed first I reckon.

Click to expand...

You mean ID the species, don't you?
Not necessarily because he is referring to physiology of trees' vascular system. Hence the info is applicable to all species. Or am I wrong?

A styling question this time, regarding the trunk chop.

my nellie said:

... ...My project is to make two or three air layers at appropriate branches on top and after removing them (if successful) to chop the tree low (either double trunk or single)... ...

Click to expand...

What would you opt for? May I have your suggestions?

my nellie said:

ID the species,

Click to expand...

Maybe Cultivar...

I know some just won't layer.

my nellie said:

What would you opt for?

Click to expand...

Both of them look the same size from a here....
If you wish to keep Both, layer the small one first so the big one can run and get bigger...

Any chance we could get a lower photo?

They might need better leaf pics too for ID.

Sorce

sorce said:

Maybe Cultivar...
I know some just won't layer.

Click to expand...

Oh, now I know what you were referring to. By the way, can you kindly name one or two of them?

sorce said:

Any chance we could get a lower photo?
They might need better leaf pics too for ID.

Click to expand...

I'll try to shoot some photos of the lower part.
Yes, I am anxious to see the new leaves, too. At the moment some buds here and there look like they're starting to swell

my nellie said:

By the way, can you kindly name one or two of them?

Click to expand...

Nope! That's why I was trying to get these fellers here!

@AlainK knows em.

Where is everyone!?

Sorce

Saw what to my eye looked like an amazing Bloodgood today, fat base with a nice bend in it, then a branch which would give nice taper, hack the rest off or air layer it... £90, not confident enough to spend that much on potential firewood yet.
Problem is it's at a garden centre I use a lot for work so I'm going to end up looking at it every couple of weeks until someone buys it or I cave in and get it myself That's how I ended up with a 5' firecracker cultivar last year which I caught myself eyeing up for a chop or layer yesterday... must not!

This is one side of the trunk


This is the other side

This is the two trunks further up


And this is a more detailed view of the trunks


I apologize for the photos... This is all I can do one-handed (suffering a fracture of upper arm currently)

my nellie said:

A styling question this time, regarding the trunk chop. What would you opt for? May I have your suggestions?

Click to expand...

Not one suggestion so far?
Is it that ugly you don't see any hope?

my nellie said:

Not one suggestion so far?
Is it that ugly you don't see any hope?

Click to expand...

What does the root crown look like?

Hello!
Lots of thin roots, like matting.
Since I have cut the rootball base generously, I didn't want to disturb further by cutting deep into the surface. Hence I am not sure there are thick roots under the matting.
A root layering might be indispensable.

Steve Kudela said:

What does the root crown look like?

Click to expand...

Bump for Steve Kudela
Thank you!

my nellie said:

Bump for Steve Kudela
Thank you!

Click to expand...

Hey my nellie, one of the issues that I have had with nursery stock is that when trees are potted up, they will drop the thing all the way down to the bottom of the container and then put 6 inches of soil mix on top of the old root ball. If the plant sits there for very long before being sold, some species have been known to strike a second root system above the original one. My guess is that you have a second rootage above the old. I have found a number of pretty good surprises underneath all that mix. In all honesty, before you determine the front you need to be able to see the surface roots. I take a piece of 2mm wire and probe through the layered roots. I'm going to bet based on the pics, that if you probe around you will find the original surface roots. Or if it hasn't leafed out yet, take a root rake and work your way down to the root crown after you've probed around. A water hose would help out as well. That would be my next move on that tree. Then I would do my air layers keeping in mind that not every cultivar will layer, although I can't understand why. One other thing I'll mention concerning maples, I have cut maples back below existing branches with the expectation of latent buds breaking, in some cases it had none and was unable to generate any. After leaving them sit all summer long waiting, they gave up the ghost. dig around that rootage and let me know what you find. I hope this helps.

Thank you so much!
Interesting info regarding the second root system above the original.
I will try to do as you advised and will come back.

And here are the new small leaves unfolding themselves under the spring sun
I feel so excited!

sorce said:

But ID needed first I reckon.

Click to expand...

Here we go sorce!