Field growing a Field maple

[BobbyLane]

just a few shots to document how fast the leader can grow on a field maple in growing bed as i was saying to @peterbone

space of a few weeks, chop was made in spring

 

[BobbyLane]

may to july


those spindly branches from earlier in the season can easily become thick sub trunks in 1-2 seasons

 

[BobbyLane]

Thanks for the update, Bobby. Interesting project and development.

I think I see what you’re getting at, but I also agree with Smoke. To me, there is a discordance between the powerful nebari and the "muscular" flow of the trunk you selected that rises up to the left, that screams trunk chop to my eyes. Knowing you’re probably going to carve the shit out of it in a few years, it might become moot, but yeah, the very first two pictures of your OP offered a clear way forward for a nice, harmonious tree. I respect that it’s not the way you wanted to take with it.

I tend to think we get obsessed with the nebari (and trunk caliper), when the trunk line/movement and how good it looks with the other components of the tree should be the first thing we look at.

this is the back of the tree and ill take some more pics at leaf drop.
but already we can see the taper being created here, plus more options have arisen.once the wound has closed up this could be a credible front even without carving...

 

[BobbyLane]

i like this idea by Shibui.....

i think if i continue to develop the main trunk, then let the other two shoots either side develop into sub trunks or thick branches, it could be an idea to aim for. suitable option for the material i have i think. we will have a look at leaf drop from the other side and a couple of unwanted shoots can be removed until we have a base that splits into three, its all there

 

[Tieball]

I attached a markup on one of your photos. I am curious about how you handle that lip that seems to form around any chop. I have some lips now on trees. It it something you deal with after the rollover is well underway?...when closer to totally closed and it's pushed out about as far as it will go?

 

[BobbyLane]

ive not really been bothered by the lip tbh. sometimes ive gone in and scraped the edges with a sharp knife to smooth everything down.

 

[just.wing.it]

ive not really been bothered by the lip tbh. sometimes ive gone in and scraped the edges with a sharp knife to smooth everything down.

That is one of my all-time favorite G Potter videos.
I'd love to see that tree today.

 

[BobbyLane]

leaves are off, can kind of see how the tree is going to be built now, i posted an image of an inspirational tree above.

here we can see where the three trunks emerge from one base....already getting some angular movement here n there...


however the thick trunk in bottom right of picture could come off as it obscures the best part of the trunk, there is a couple shoots above it off to the right which will be used. could leave it on as a sacrifice but the longer its left the bigger the resulting scar if youre worried about that type of thing.will have a look in spring

 

[BobbyLane]

this is a field maple clump started from a chopped stump or a root cutting, i cant remember.it actually has potential but looks awful from this angle. over summer the shoots were cut back low, resulting in more shoots, some taper, these can too course if you let them....no rush to get these up but by taking photos i can see where im going, see how they respond
could maybe even be a raft by the looks of it from here,
i have 3 hawthorns out here somewhere

 

[PieterVE]

Hi @BobbyLane , do you prepare your soil for field growing, or is it stony like in the pictures naturally ?

 

[BobbyLane]

i usually fill them in with old bonsai soil when planting. a lot of these trees might have been in pots with bonsai soil in, so when they went in the ground i used that same soil as well mainly near the surface. cat litter is fairly cheap, you can always partially fill a planting hole with a mix of cat litter and john innes.

 

[BobbyLane]

so i removed the heavy branch obscuring the front of the trunk, the plan is to drive energy into the two shoots on far right until i have a subtrunk there.three trunks from one base, the vision is a bit clearer.
we can see the taper developing in the main trunk and we can see movement.
the next chop will be made at the red line...

 

[Tieball]

Well done. It’s a good learning experience to watch your choice of actions, reasons, progressions, and especially your helpful commentary about why you’re taking a specific direction. Mighty fine!
I'm visually oriented...photos clarify a lot to me.

 

[BobbyLane]

i applied another chop to this earlier, the trunk is fattening up nicely, i decided to chop now to avoid any undue swelling in the wrong sections.
ill have a proper look in winter and take better pics.

 

[BobbyLane]

this is a leafless pic from spring i think, but the thick trunk at the back is what just came off. the leader coming towards me is now the next trunk section

 

[BobbyLane]

Here's an update after i dug it up today, or rather since it was planted on a tile i only had to cut around the edges with loppers and secatuers.

its developing nice taper, some good movement and changes of direction in the trunk line, base isnt too shabby.
can begin building a branch structure.

i might hollow out the two chops at back of tree, will see.

 

[BobbyLane]

Before, after

2017


2021

 

[Tieball]

Nice powerful, aggressive trunk now. And the beginnings of a rough bark development...which I think takes a long time. Anyway. Field Maples seem to take to drastic root pruning well...and just keep on developing growth. Mighty fine! Well done.

 

[Graft]

Could you tell me if they air layer easily. I bought a FM a few weeks ago but the trunk is way too long.

 

[BobbyLane]

ive never tried, but this chap seemed to have success

Old Acer campestre - Field Maple. Airlayering and forming

Hi 2011 i bought a old Field maple. I knew that it will be a lot of work to make from this wild tree a Bonsai. So i warn you. It will be a long thread. After bu

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