Can a Trunk be too Big?

Tidal Bonsai

Omono
Messages
1,394
Reaction score
2,853
Location
Brick NJ (USA)
USDA Zone
7a
I have been working mostly with conifers for the past few years, but I have been gaining interest in some deciduous as of late. Myself and other members of my club have had discussions on this topic, and I am curious to know what you all think?

A member of this site, who is also in my club found this tree marked “Acer Palmatum” at a nursery. From what others have said, it’s either standard AP, Deshojo, or momojji.

The trunk is about 4-5 inches wide above the nebari, and it’s in a monster pot (the kind they lift with forklifts). From various discussions, we have come up with three different hypothetical ways to approach material which are all pictured below. What I was curious about was the eventual size of the “finished tree.”

From what I have read, you chop a tree when it’s 1/3-1/2 the finished thickness you want. So does this mean in a decade or two after the first chop, this will have an 8-10 inch trunk? If so, that seems a bit too much, doesn’t it?!?!
 

Attachments

  • AE0AF4B1-2E65-45D6-9945-0BC38278C6C0.jpeg
    AE0AF4B1-2E65-45D6-9945-0BC38278C6C0.jpeg
    417.7 KB · Views: 250
  • 6D09ADEA-39AF-4A1B-8997-3E7CAAC9196D.jpeg
    6D09ADEA-39AF-4A1B-8997-3E7CAAC9196D.jpeg
    438.1 KB · Views: 246
  • B494F7D0-B74E-4585-A1E1-569AD564C8B9.jpeg
    B494F7D0-B74E-4585-A1E1-569AD564C8B9.jpeg
    422.9 KB · Views: 226
  • 47157BC8-DBA3-43BB-9080-363B995B69AC.jpeg
    47157BC8-DBA3-43BB-9080-363B995B69AC.jpeg
    418.1 KB · Views: 207
  • 55465039-0CAF-4E2C-80D6-38522319941E.jpeg
    55465039-0CAF-4E2C-80D6-38522319941E.jpeg
    421.1 KB · Views: 227

RobertB

Chumono
Messages
736
Reaction score
708
Location
Fairhope AL
USDA Zone
8
Its very straight. I would consider for good price and try to make a large tree.
 

M. Frary

Bonsai Godzilla
Messages
14,307
Reaction score
22,116
Location
Mio Michigan
USDA Zone
4
The new leader you grow after the chop you let grow to be 2/3 to 3/4 the thickness of the chopped trunk.
I think you got it backwards some.
 

Tidal Bonsai

Omono
Messages
1,394
Reaction score
2,853
Location
Brick NJ (USA)
USDA Zone
7a
I took the plunge when it went 50% off, this is what I am thinking are the best possible fronts. The trunk is 4.5 inches above the nebari.

I cut out the dead branches, added soil to cover the surface roots, sprayed with fungicide/insecticide, and fertilized with liquid kelp and 0-10-10 for the fall.
 

Tidal Bonsai

Omono
Messages
1,394
Reaction score
2,853
Location
Brick NJ (USA)
USDA Zone
7a
Possible Fronts
 

Attachments

  • 200F7568-D607-41F0-8845-FD5F759139B3.jpeg
    200F7568-D607-41F0-8845-FD5F759139B3.jpeg
    437.8 KB · Views: 158
  • 7B4FEA56-7E1A-4A2B-B4EA-85D3790CB256.jpeg
    7B4FEA56-7E1A-4A2B-B4EA-85D3790CB256.jpeg
    559.4 KB · Views: 177
  • 94AC7BF8-A323-4F15-B1E7-3254413ABAD5.jpeg
    94AC7BF8-A323-4F15-B1E7-3254413ABAD5.jpeg
    648.1 KB · Views: 183

Tidal Bonsai

Omono
Messages
1,394
Reaction score
2,853
Location
Brick NJ (USA)
USDA Zone
7a
The first one seems to have better flow. That one is gonna wear your saw out! Wonder if an Ebehara notch would help. Maybe too big. @markyscott

Haha! They both seem to have a similar view to the scars that will be created to my eyes. The big toss up is whether I want to get better taper (first one), or better movement (the second). @MACH5 will help me with it at the end of February when he visits our club.
 

Boerboel313

Yamadori
Messages
61
Reaction score
18
Location
Southern California, USA
USDA Zone
10a
I don’t know. Lol. Starting on this Ficus Ben
 

Attachments

  • 10DB700D-0571-48A9-8651-60848706E5A3.jpeg
    10DB700D-0571-48A9-8651-60848706E5A3.jpeg
    186.4 KB · Views: 113

Adair M

Pinus Envy
Messages
14,402
Reaction score
34,873
Location
NEGeorgia
USDA Zone
7a
With that tree, I wouldn’t chop all the branches back to the trunk. I would make a large broom style out of it. Maybe shorten all the branches back about half. Remove that funky horizontal branch.

You can start reducing the root ball, taking at least half off the bottom. Maybe take 3/5 off the bottom. Use a sawsall.
 

leatherback

The Treedeemer
Messages
13,933
Reaction score
26,850
Location
Northern Germany
USDA Zone
7
You can start reducing the root ball, taking at least half off the bottom. Maybe take 3/5 off the bottom. Use a sawsall.
Also when it does not seem to have actively growing branches? In my local climate that would be a fairly certain route to the fireplace..
 

It's Kev

Omono
Messages
1,161
Reaction score
1,629
Location
GuangZhou 广州
USDA Zone
10
There’s no such thing as too thick, I’ve acquired this bad boy lately. One day it will be... something
68A31959-A328-4333-8F2A-A02801B8AAEC.jpeg
 

peterbone

Mame
Messages
247
Reaction score
538
Location
South East England
USDA Zone
8b
Assuming a typical height to trunk thickness ratio of 6, a 5 inch trunk would give you a 30 inch tree. Add a bit for the pot and that's still well under a meter high, which is common for specimen bonsai.
 

Anthony

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
6,290
Reaction score
8,388
Location
West Indies [ Caribbean ]
USDA Zone
13
As Peter said - 1 to 6 for grace, or 1 to 5 for stout.

Came across a trunk wide 6 inch [ 15 cm ] Oxy [ cocaine type ] recently.
it may fall into a river, so will watch if it is going to be a save.
But that is going to be a big tree and many branches / leaves.
A big pot.

Will keep the group updated.

As the shrub goes it is 3 feet [ around 1 m ] tall and wide,
Good Day
Anthony
 

WesB

Mame
Messages
185
Reaction score
112
USDA Zone
7
Cutting those leaders and branches off.. sad. I would get some proper photos and seek professional help for this tree if there isn’t a artist near you or something. Saving it for club meeting or workshop even.
 
Top Bottom