I went hard on this one…

Dav4

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I picked up this Japanese maple at the growing grounds over a year ago and started working the roots last spring. I realized that it needed a ground layer to have any chance of having a decent root base. As you can see from the photos, I didn’t get quite as much roots as I hoped… thus, the resulting carnage to what had been the existing root system :). This one should make it, but you never know?... I will in about 3 weeks:p. If it grows well, it’ll get screwed to a board next spring and I’ll start doing some route grafts.D9472BB4-E16C-4D05-BD5F-C7352667F37D.jpeg68162A15-2B99-4DD8-A46C-22D1A2F11191.jpeg5849F8C4-8CDD-4D46-AFD0-029DDE6E5D83.jpeg699F963A-7DE8-4E5B-A3E9-4989491274BD.jpeg3E4BE5D1-75B2-4E3D-AD9C-1E3F1C2A96A9.jpeg13C80325-58E1-4775-B370-34CB4A2C915B.jpeg
 
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Adamantium

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As someone who's never done a ground layer, did you literally just lop off the bottom and stick what was left in the dirt?
 

Giga

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woh, can't say I would have done that. BOLD!
 

namnhi

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Let the betting begin. The odd is 80/20. You are a Japanese maple wizard if that thing live. Didn't know you can do a cutting that old and that big.
 

namnhi

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Ground layer is not what you are doing here. Lol
 

Dav4

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As someone who's never done a ground layer, did you literally just lop off the bottom and stick what was left in the dirt?
No. I actually removed the cambium 360 degrees around the trunk... but I missed some cambium and the results are less then stellar. There are roots there, but not a lot. Don't do what I did above if you absolutely aren't willing to lose the tree.
Ground layer is not what you are doing here. Lol
It was ground layered last spring... yesterday was the big reveal for what I hoped would be a nice new set of roots, and I was underwhelmed by the results.
 

RobertB

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how long did that beast grow in the ground for?
 
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Big tree, little roots. Keep out of wind and keep humidity high. Don't expect a lot of elongation, if you can keep green on the tree it is fine. The first summer heat might be the tipping point in my experience, but you are more experienced than me, so show us how to do it...
 

RobertB

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What would be recommended in this case to help this tree through summer heat?
 
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Sun and wind protection. Misting when possible. It's a big cutting. First thing is to get the tree through the spring first.
 

Nybonsai12

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Brave. Hopefully it pulls through for you. I recall another of yours that you gave similar brutal treatment that responded well I thought. Do you seal those bottom cuts?
 

Dav4

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Brave. Hopefully it pulls through for you. I recall another of yours that you gave similar brutal treatment that responded well I thought. Do you seal those bottom cuts?
Nope. in my experience, cuts to roots or the trunk below the soil surface don't need to be sealed... and thanks for your confidence:p.
 

Nybonsai12

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Nope. in my experience, cuts to roots or the trunk below the soil surface don't need to be sealed... and thanks for your confidence:p.

I too was hacking one up from GG and I wasn’t sure about sealing em or not so I sealed. Dang it! Should have saved the cut paste. Thanks for the tip.
 

Paulpash

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Nope. in my experience, cuts to roots or the trunk below the soil surface don't need to be sealed... and thanks for your confidence:p.

There's less chance of roots forming if you seal. I've sealed under the trunk before though to encourage roots to form just on the laterals. Really hope this one makes it Dave, I enjoy your progression threads (especially the multiple page ones :))
 
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