Chunky field maple raw material - send all the help!!!

Clorgan

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Hello all!

Took a risk ordering this field maple online, was only one photo available, but was cheap and my first opportunity to try a bit of a beasty one!

So the trunk is far from ideal, quite an odd shape! Almost quite flat? Hopefully the photos will show this.

Limited movement and taper. Tree does look healthy though, and it's certainly chunky! And there's some lower branches.

It's in a pretty small pot, surface roots visible and small roots coming from the base of the pot (not a huge amount). It's pretty secure in the pot, only a very very slight wobble.

Included lots of photos, hopefully they will give a good idea of what the material is like!

Spoke to a few experienced people via message before it arrived and got some thoughts about possible trunk chop and/or air layering, however this was with only one pretty poor photo to go off.

ANY input appreciated! This year will be just letting it grow (unless anyone spots anything crucial that needs to be done). So thoughts on what to do next year would be amazing!

Thanks in advance 😊
 

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sorce

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Kinda seems like it was buried up to the rounder part at one point.

I want to know what kind of growth rate you can get on these, if it is high, I would attempt a tree large enough to have that entire trunk.

A new surface rootage should be mission one though.

Sorce
 

Clorgan

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Kinda seems like it was buried up to the rounder part at one point.

I want to know what kind of growth rate you can get on these, if it is high, I would attempt a tree large enough to have that entire trunk.

A new surface rootage should be mission one though.

Sorce

May well be right there. It's certainly going to be an interesting project! Even despite its MANY flaws...I actually quite like it! I think it's rather...quirky?

Definitely need to do something about the lack of roots. Will do some research into that, cheers for pointing out 👍

Flat trunk though...what gives there?! Never seen that before
 

Clorgan

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Who knows! I'm absolutely open to ideas... See how this year's growth goes first. I do think Sorce is right, root situation is an issue!
 

BobbyLane

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well first you have to dig until you get to the nebari. that is the first step. trees are built from the ground up. bit pointless without knowing what the nebari is like. it looks like difficult material tbh
 

Clorgan

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well first you have to dig until you get to the nebari. that is the first step. trees are built from the ground up. but pointless without knowing what the nebari is like.

Not got round to researching this properly yet, I'm always wary about digging, not wanting to damage the roots?
 

Cmd5235

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Absolutely agree on the roots! That being said, I’m excited for what a year of growth will bring you. I’m sure you’ll have plenty of opportunities, and I appreciate seeing a workable diameter trunk!
 

Pitoon

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@Clorgan that is definitely a strange looking tree. My opinion air layer at the same level of that large cut that's healing. When it roots cut right below that cut. Now you have a stump you can work with. Grow a leader to begin developing taper.
 

fredman

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Flat trunk though...what gives there?! Never seen that before
I have that on a chinese elm. Fat trunk but flatish from the side. When it's out the pot, the roots tell the story. It has more powerful, and thicker roots around one side than where the flat side is.
 

hinmo24t

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Reminds me of some of mine im going to dig next spring. I have some wild nebari going on these I just put some quality soil around the trunk for now20200711_065259.jpg
 

Clorgan

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Absolutely agree on the roots! That being said, I’m excited for what a year of growth will bring you. I’m sure you’ll have plenty of opportunities, and I appreciate seeing a workable diameter trunk!

You never know, it may have the most amazing nebari under there... 🤔 If it doesn't grow well at least I have the option to air layer!
 

Clorgan

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@Clorgan that is definitely a strange looking tree. My opinion air layer at the same level of that large cut that's healing. When it roots cut right below that cut. Now you have a stump you can work with. Grow a leader to begin developing taper.

Strange is a good word for it! Cheers for this, air layering is definitely in my mind! Absolutely going to give it the year to grow though, it may surprise us all 😬
 

Clorgan

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I have that on a chinese elm. Fat trunk but flatish from the side. When it's out the pot, the roots tell the story. It has more powerful, and thicker roots around one side than where the flat side is.

Ahh makes sense, thanks for this. I'm guessing this is extremely difficult to rectify...
 
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