How to care & train my Maple.

[kevinguyen]

I just got this tree as a gift. Ive read A LOT online about caring for it like placement,watering,etc... The only thing im confused about is pruning,cutting,wiring. Where and how do I cut the leaves? How do I make the trunk bigger? How would I train/style this tree since it has small really small trunks? Also,are those new shoots and what causes the leaves to turn yellow/rot like that? I have a few leaves like that....Thanks in advance!

 

[Projekt Robi]

if you want your trunk to get bigger its best to just stick it in the ground and let it grow acouple of seasons and chop it and repeat.
for you leaves that looks like sun burn to me maples are very sensitive its best to make sure they have morning sun and afternoon shade.

 

[MACH5]

Ditto! Also I would recommend, among a few others, the Peter Adams book "BONSAI WITH JAPANESE MAPLES". It will give you a good foundation in working with this species.

Also agree as far as your leaves are concerned. It looks like leaf scorch to me as well. This is very common among maples and usually is a response to heat stress so make sure it never dries out in Summer and keep it mostly shaded. This is harmless to your tree just not aesthetically very pleasing. Otherwise your tree looks pretty healthy to me