Field Maple Clump Possibility

[Shogun610]

Comes with a oak seedling..

anyway, was thinking about putting into substrate and cutting back in spring for future styling as a clump.
it’s still at the studio , so I’ve been eyeing this up, just wanted the feedback if it was a worthy pursuit.

 

[Colorado]

Would need to be cut back very hard, but yes absolutely could build a clump from that as a long term project.

 

[Pitoon]

Comes with a oak seedling..

anyway, was thinking about putting into substrate and cutting back in spring for future styling as a clump.
it’s still at the studio , so I’ve been eyeing this up, just wanted the feedback if it was a worthy pursuit.

I would pursue it. But I would spread the trunks out some with spreaders and air layer right below where all the trunks meet.

 

[Shogun610]

I would pursue it. But I would spread the trunks out some with spreaders and air layer right below where all the trunks meet.

Ah yes an air layer , was afraid someone would mention that but it would alleviate heavy root work

 

[Pitoon]

Ah yes an air layer , was afraid someone would mention that but it would alleviate heavy root work

Where the trunks meet it's sitting above the soil. All the trunks should emerge as one right at the soil line....at least for me it should.

 

[Shogun610]

Where the trunks meet it's sitting above the soil. All the trunks should emerge as one right at the soil line....at least for me it should.

No yea I agree. I grimaced when I dug below the soil to expose the base. Only other option was to choose front as pic one and ground layer cause there was some good nebari.

 

[Shogun610]

Took it home , cutting back some dead branches and more even transition to build taper. Going to either air layer or use a front that has good nebari.. can’t see it really well, but the picture with my hand is the base, I removed some extra dirt and cut the container back.

 

[Shogun610]

Better picture of the front. Air layer or not… I cleaned up the dead tops of the tree. To build taper I’ll have to cut further down, use wires and separators to bend around.

 

[Colorado]

Personally, I would not layer it until you’ve had a chance to repot it and fully inspect the roots. It may be that you could better improve the nebari with another technique such as root grafting. Or, maybe a ground layer would indeed be the best option. But I think you’ll have a better idea what is necessary after you repot and work the roots.

 

[Shogun610]

I’m going to repot and cut the tree back hard.. then I determine if ground or air layer is best.

 

[Eckhoffw]

I’m going to repot and cut the tree back hard.. then I determine if ground or air layer is best.

Good plan. I’m trying to be better at root work first!

 

[Shogun610]

Know what scratch that I’m going to air layer with mesh and substrate around base of emerging trunks … I don’t want to waste alot of my soil on this behemoth I think restarting the roots is best approach.

 

[Eckhoffw]

Know what scratch that I’m going to air layer with mesh and substrate around base of emerging trunks … I don’t want to waste alot of my soil on this behemoth I think restarting the roots is best approach.

Yes. It’s a shame to spend loads of time on pruning, styling, and etc, only to have the tree suffer later after major root work is done.

 

[Shogun610]

Cut into bark at base today during a class with Mach5 , great experience and wealth of knowledge .. air layered the base to eventually cut the tree off. It’s current root system.. then from there reduce trunk sizes accordingly .. used a nursery can and anchored into pot with mostly akadama and some pumice with top layer sphagnum .. I’m driving home lol