Acer Katsura - Worth an air layer?

CodeMonkey

Mame
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The wife and I picked up this Acer Palmatum "katsura" destined to be a feature tree in the front garden.

Since we purchased it, I've been considering whether I could airlayer it to get myself some extra bonsai material.
If I did, I assume it would be best to take the layer as bonsai material, not vice versa? (The roots don't look to bad on this)

I think the smaller of the 2 trunks has some potential to play with. Any thoughts?
 

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Ohmy222

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Katsura is a beautiful cultivar and an excellent candidate for bonsai. They have small leaves, ratify well, and have great fall color. Not as vigorous as a standard maple but still better than some of the Hime type maples some use. Having said that, they are nice landscape trees so I wouldn’t go crazy messing that up either.
 

sorce

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Id cut it further down, but that piece looks from the low stock below a graft?

Sorce
 

CodeMonkey

Mame
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Id cut it further down, but that piece looks from the low stock below a graft?

Sorce

Yes I think it is. I think the lowest few branches are from the root stock. I'll find out for certain when it leafs.
Looks like there's already a couple of internodes below the fork that are above the graft. Only issue then Is the instant reverse taper.

Having said that, they are nice landscape trees so I wouldn’t go crazy messing that up either.

Agreed! And this is why I'm on the fence.
I'm tempted to just layer both trunks above the fork and build a new tree for the garden too.
 
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