2 year progression of a Field Maple

peterbone

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This is a tree that I collected locally (south east England) last year. Here's how it looks now.
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Prior to collection I had chopped it and left it where it was for a year. Here it is in the ground after chopping.
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In March 2017 I collected it. It had some nice fine roots close to the trunk.
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It grew well from the start. Here it is 2 months later.
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Normally I wouldn't work on a tree so early, but this one was growing so strongly I felt like I could. Here it is in June 2017 after some pruning and wiring. Also starting to grow a new leader to create taper at the apex.
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Over winter.
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This year it has continued to grow strongly. The leader reached around 1.5m tall before I cut it off.
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Here's the chop. New growth has now formed around here to form a denser apex.
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Next spring I'll plant it in a shallow ceramic pot and continue developing the apex and ramification. There's some good trunk flare and root base hidden under the soil. One thing I've learnt is that Field Maple produce course growth. You really have to keep on top of it to prevent too much thickening. I hold off the fertiliser until after the first flush.
 

cbroad

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Awesome stuff!

I had been on the search for one for years after seeing a gorgeous field maple bonsai in a book, and I finally found two last year! They're hard to come by here; I bet you guys have them coming out of your ears over there. One didn't make it through winter but the other one is very vigorous and am waiting on an air layer to take.

One thing I've learnt is that Field Maple produce course growth. You really have to keep on top of it to prevent too much thickening. I hold off the fertiliser until after the first flush.

I like your tip about combating the coarse growth, any other tips you can share about growing these?

I'm aware of their long internodes, I've heard to select the weaker stems that come from under main branches at the same node, to become the new leaders. Does this sound right, any thoughts about their long internodes?

I'll definitely be following your thread, keep it up!
 
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Nice! I enjoyed your progression. I have a campestre thickening up for a trunk chop sometime this winter. Hope it turns out asnice as yours!
 

petegreg

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cbroad

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@petegreg
Thanks! I've read that thread before and I'll have to check out those links. I've heard field maples are similar to Montpellier maples (maybe that thread was where I heard it) and that they can hybridize. I actually almost bought a Montpellier at the same time as the field maples. Actually, the field maple I lost may have been one of those hybrids, there was something different about the bark and the leaves, and the owner of Meehan's was a little unsure if it was a true field maple at the time of purchase too. Maybe it's lack of winter protection is why that one didn't make it but the true field maple did, I don't know...
 
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peterbone

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petegreg

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Having some young Montpellier maples I'll definitely try that pruning cycle and try it on a field maple after established to compare these two.
 

petegreg

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Thanks a lot for those links. I'd not seen them before. Some amazing looking trees there too.

We have plenty of field maples here. I've collected 3 already but have my eye on a few others. Easy to collect too.
You're welcome. We too have many of them here, one I'll try to dig is quite a piece of tree.
 

peterbone

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I created an interactive 360 of this tree using some javascript code I found. Just drag left or right with the mouse. It took about 5 minutes to take the photos. I edited them using IrfanView in batch mode. This is something I'd like to do with all my trees at regular intervals. Let me know if it doesn't work as expected. Also, any feedback on the tree is welcome.

http://www.brightdatasci.com/bonsai/acer.html
 

peterbone

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This tree went into its first bonsai pot this spring. The roots were worked on heavily to get a flat base. I'm happier with the new front. Still a little way to get a more rounded crown. Album of development.
 

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Tieball

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I created an interactive 360 of this tree using some javascript code I found. Just drag left or right with the mouse. It took about 5 minutes to take the photos. I edited them using IrfanView in batch mode. This is something I'd like to do with all my trees at regular intervals. Let me know if it doesn't work as expected. Also, any feedback on the tree is welcome.

http://www.brightdatasci.com/bonsai/acer.html
Nice tree. Nice touch on the 360 of the tree. Mighty fine!
 

peterbone

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Nice tree. Nice touch on the 360 of the tree. Mighty fine!
Thanks. I'll need to do another 360 soon as that one's a bit out of date now. Maybe in Autumn with the bright yellow leaves. It would be nice to have a scroll bar on the web page to browse through time as well as angle, but that's something for later.
 

peterbone

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I created a time-lapse of this tree over Autumn / Spring. Autumn starts on 19th October 2019 and ends 30th November 2019. Spring starts on 31st March 2020 and ends 9th May 2020. With this Spring's growth the crown is starting to develop a better more domed appearance. Note that I did do some pinching.

 

Woocash

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Very nice Peter. I have thought about doing some similar time lapse videos too. Did you leave the camera in place for several weeks or just create a mount and replace the camera each time?
 

peterbone

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Very nice Peter. I have thought about doing some similar time lapse videos too. Did you leave the camera in place for several weeks or just create a mount and replace the camera each time?
Thanks. I replaced the camera each time with markings on the ground. The positioning wasn't perfect but the offset was corrected during cropping. You need to be careful to keep the angle and distance the same though as that's more difficult to align.
 

james

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You have done a nice job with this tree.

Would you consider shortening? About 3/4 way up tree there is a forward going branch which could be new leader, provide more taper? Middle half of tree has limited taper. What do you think?
 

peterbone

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You have done a nice job with this tree.

Would you consider shortening? About 3/4 way up tree there is a forward going branch which could be new leader, provide more taper? Middle half of tree has limited taper. What do you think?
I'm happy with the height of the tree. I think that a tall elegant style with gradual taper suits Maples well. I like to have a range of styles in my collection and I already have several short squat trees. Also, Field Maple has quite coarse growth and is difficult as a smaller tree.
 
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