Help needed with my Trident Maple

[typoolVT]

I have a chopped trident and part of the top of it is rotten. I need some help on what to do, where to cut, etc.

 

[Nybonsai12]

More experienced folks will chime in but I would believe you would want to carve away all rotten wood and seal well with cut paste/sealant etc.

 

[Poink88]

If this is mine, I will go with this.

View attachment 43638

BTW, I'll also wait until spring before doing the chop.

 

[typoolVT]

If this is mine, I will go with this.

View attachment 43638

BTW, I'll also wait until spring before doing the chop.

Thanks for the help! thats exactly what i was looking for.

Also, I just pulled that thing out of the ground a few weeks ago and repotted it. Should i wait a year or so to let the roots do their thing??

 

[Poink88]

Also, I just pulled that thing out of the ground a few weeks ago and repotted it. Should i wait a year or so to let the roots do their thing??

In that case yes, it will be safer to wait a full year before doing a re-chop. Do plan ahead and (if you choose to go this route) start the bend on the new leader as shown. You can use the existing upper trunk to help do the bend. Put a piece of wood brace and pull the upper part towards the trunk to be removed.

On the trunk, you can do a partial cut so you can use next year toward healing.

View attachment 43639

Remove the 2 small branches at the base of your new trunk line as well.

 

[Nybonsai12]

If waiting, i would carve away the rotted wood and seal to prevent further decay.