Critique and advice -Trident Maple

[Dirty Nails]

Bought this 2 years ago. Root pruned last spring. My biggest fault is doing to little (after killing another trident and a juniper). Buds are starting and I would like some opinions. I am self taught with 3 years in bonsai. What would you do? Pictures are Front, left, back, right, roots. Thanks!

 

[berobinson82]

Oh jeez that's purty. Looks like some root grafting would help that nebari. Also, I think this good looking maple would look even better in a wider, more shallow pot.

Nice tree ya got there!

 

[Poink88]

Before we give you our "critique"...can you tell us a bit what your preference and what your plan/vision for this?

 

[jk_lewis]

There's not much wrong with that base that I can see that planting it a bit deeper in a pot wouldn't help.

As far as the tree goes, I think I would shorten it and develop a more rounded canopy.

 

[Poink88]

As far as the tree goes, I think I would shorten it and develop a more rounded canopy.

I agree and was afraid to say the top 1/4-1/3 might have to go. It is a shame since that part is nice. Airlayering it or maybe use as a cutting should be considered.

 

[Dirty Nails]

Before we give you our "critique"...can you tell us a bit what your preference and what your plan/vision for this?

I think it needs apex work and fine branch development. It also needs nebari help. As far as shape I am thinking either a full broom like canopy or wiring down some branches and defining foilage pads.

 

[JudyB]

I like the movement of the trunk better from the back.

If you want a broom, then you'll have to cut back and start over. This is something you'll have to decide...
I would also bury it deeper, that will help the roots a lot. Then you can start cutting back a bit to get more division in the roots as well.

 

[bwaynef]

I'm going to disagree with what's been said. I think the best part of this tree is in the apex, the VERY top. If your goal is the best tree from this trunk, I'd layer off the apex and have the start of a fine shohin, then chop the long straight untapered portion back and start building new trunk sections.

 

[Martin Sweeney]

Dirty Nails,

I agree with JudyB that the current back is more attractive and might be a better future front. Can you post a picture of the back's roots?

Overall, I like the tree. I am not sure that going after the top as a separate tree via an airlayer is the best use of the material, although I agree that there is a boring straight section in the middle of the current front.

Determining the best front (only you can, as it is your tree and you get to see it in person), deeper potting, simplification of the branching and a wiring job would be good goals for this year.

Regards,
Martin

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

It has lots of positive features:
1. Clean, relatively scar-free trunk.
2. Nice trunk line, and even taper.
3. Branches in all the right places...evenly distributed, and appropriately-sized.

These features have to be quite conscientiously developed.

Some areas that will need some work to improve it's quality as a bonsai:
1. Nebari needs to be tightened up; ideally to compliment the branch structure. Several good ideas have been presented by some of our veterans: Thread Grafting is a good long-term solution. Planting it deeper is a good short-term solution that may provide longer-term results (roots may appear).
2. The branching is coming along, but don't let it develop "whorls", but keep shoots emerging in pairs. Photos are a good way to identify areas that are getting too dense.
3. The apex is a little coarse. Over time (take your time) you'll need to refine the trunk line so it's even. It will require you to wire thinner replacement branches into the right spot, and replace the thicker, coarser branches with thinner ones. This is a more conservative approach to reducing the height by 1/4 or 1/3 as some have suggested.

Here's a good example from a Kokufu-ten exhibition book. It exhibits many of the qualities your tree has, but a few years further along...something to shoot for!

 

[Dirty Nails]

Dirty Nails,

I agree with JudyB that the current back is more attractive and might be a better future front. Can you post a picture of the back's roots?

Overall, I like the tree. I am not sure that going after the top as a separate tree via an airlayer is the best use of the material, although I agree that there is a boring straight section in the middle of the current front.

Determining the best front (only you can, as it is your tree and you get to see it in person), deeper potting, simplification of the branching and a wiring job would be good goals for this year.

Regards,
Martin

I like the stance of the tree best from the back also but it is the back because the apex goes toword the front of the tree. Isn't the apex supossed to point forward? Also the upper back has a half dollar size wound from a previous chop.

 

[Dirty Nails]

I like the movement of the trunk better from the back.

If you want a broom, then you'll have to cut back and start over. This is something you'll have to decide...
I would also bury it deeper, that will help the roots a lot. Then you can start cutting back a bit to get more division in the roots as well.

I know its not a broom style but I was thinking that "full upside down bowl" type canopy look. Would it still be an informal upright with that canopy?

 

[Martin Sweeney]

Dirty Nails,

If changing the front is something you are considering, the wounds on a trident will close fairly quickly, so that is not too big of an issue concerning the back becoming the front.

The lean of the apex is a bigger concern. You can change the trunk angle when you repot and prune back to branches in the apex that improve the lean. This is more work than you want to undertake and may not be possible.

Either way, it is a nice tree and should be a source of much enjoyment for you going forward.

Regards,
Martin

 

[catfish chapstick]

My personal opinion of this tree:

I like it a lot. The whole thing looks good. I personally wouldn't worry about the apex so much, that is going to be easy to correct. If this were my tree I would thin out the top a lot. I would thin out the whole thing, aside from the lowest branches. It will bounce back in no time. If the upper branches get too "heavy" it can look very unnatural and they want to get heavy so pruning is a must. Go for a rounded canopy but keep the lower half of the tree ahead of the upper. This is just what I would do. Maples are tough so you wouldn't be compromising its health.