Initial styling (reduction)

[Jason]

This spring I picked up some new Trident stumps. They were field grown and were dug up and put into Anderson Flats after washing off the roots (mostly). I thought it would be prudent to give them this summer to recover and then begin an initial styling (which will include some drastic trunk chops and removal of most branches) when they are dormant in November. They had more deadwood than I had initially thought and the thought was an uninterrupted growing season would allow their root systems to recover and potentially help heal some of the littler scars. I was going to save the more major root work (they need to be trimmed back substantially) for the spring after next.

Is this a sound plan or should I be thinking about doing some reduction now in the summer so that the scars heal quicker? They are going absolutely bonkers (growing vigorously) and the amount of new growth is bordering on frightening. They're taking over my bench. Besides I'm itching to lay into them and actually start development. What would you maple veterans recommend?

Here's a previous post with pics:http://bonsainut.com/forums/showpost.php?p=67333&postcount=23

 

[Jason]

I've been fertilizing with organic fertilizer (something with humic acid after reading all the other posts) pellets, slow release fertilizer and miracle grow about every two weeks. They look like they've recovered and then some.

Here's a post explaining some of my confusion:http://bonsainut.com/forums/showpost.php?p=67115&postcount=37

Maybe I'm just over thinking this....I do that.

 

[HotAction]

This might help. http://walter-pall-travelogues.blogspot.com/2011/04/woodstock-iv-day-4-maple-workshop.html