Big Ol Bloodgood

[TomRVA]

Here’s a tree I collected from a neighbors yard who was going to have it chopped down. It was initially about a 15/20 foot tree , I went out in late December 2021 ( not ideal time but it survived!) and dug it up- it was a decent amount of work to get it out and boxed up. Here are some progress pics so far. I’ve let it run wild for the most part. I finally put some wire and guy wires to set some branches in place a few days ago and finally got an idea where I want to go with it. Still needs some root work, I’d like to do some carving on the roots/ nebari to create some hollows. I need to build a smaller box for it this spring and reduce the roots. Maybe sometime in the future I’d like to do some root grafting as well to create a more even root spread to it. Still have a while to go but there is some progress
1st pic: April 2022


2nd pic May 2022:


3rd Pic November 2023:

 

[PonderingSage:]

Maybe top off the box to get a little bit more soil in there and cover those roots. Some roots might start growing if they’re covered a touch more.
Looks like a good project!

 

[19Mateo83]

Nice score of a free bloodgood, should be a fun project.

 

[Ininaatigoons]

Huge! This is a beast! First section done! That puts you 15 or 20 years ahead for an awesome tree! Looks like your doing the right stuff. Keep it up! The training pot you have it in would be about right for the pot size, but I get it. There is only so big you can go and still handle it. Let that leader and those branches and sacrificials grow.

 

[TomRVA]

Heres an update to this big chunk a munk Acer palmatum ‘bloodgood’. So I’ve more or less let this thing run and do its thing over the past few years ( except for some structural wiring to give it some movement in the branches ). It has wanted to throw new buds on the trunk but they always seem to be in the wrong places, so I’ve basically just kept up with trimming off the shoots that appear on the “wrong” places... Japanese beetles munched down pretty hard this past summer which I think hindered some growth , I’ll try and be proactive this year , rather than reactive as far as insecticide.
After looking at this tree for a few years , I’m starting to really not like the completely straight trunk .id like to do some major carving ( I know , I know - maples shouldn’t have dead wood ) but I think I’d like to make this a rotten, bored out, shell of a trunk with some nice branching + good silhouette. When is the best time to do major carving / hollowing out / tree abuse ? If I were to guess, I’d think after the first initial big flush of growth (mid spring ) but I’m wondering if I could go ahead now (late winter ) with it? I bought a die grinder on clearance over the winter for this very procedure , and I’m itching to use it! Any input would be appreciated! ** Pic from fall 2024

 

[Ininaatigoons]

I always thought the fastest healing was in early spring so heavy procedures should be done early.

 

[TomRVA]

I always thought the fastest healing was in early spring so heavy procedures should be done early.

Awesome ! Thanks for the input !