one_bonsai
Shohin
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- 332
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...you could regrow the top section and start developing the branches and make a tree out of it as it is.
...regrow the top section with the wire scarring and develop a tree out of what’s left.
The only reason to put in the ground is if you want a fatter trunk.
You would not need to put it in the ground for this.
You just keep all branching in check while you let the leader grow. 2 or 3 seasons you have the new top. You can be developing branching at the same time. Like others already stated there is an issue with nebari that is probably not fixable. Once your ready you should ground layer the tree or just be ok with it as is.
So if I ground layer it in the future, would I be correct in saying there's no point root pruning it now?
I'm a bit un-familiar with Maples so not sure what to do with my first one. I was thinking of trunk chopping it at the red line, root pruning it, putting it in the ground and then selecting a new leader. Do maples form lots of new shoots below the trunk chop like elms?
What type of maple is it? Its growth habit looks like trident, but the bark on the base looks very different. What do you want your tree to look like? There are plenty examples of what maples looks like on the 'net.
What do you like about the tree? Is there anything you would want to highlight?
What do you dislike about the tree, other than it looks like a cricket bat? Is there anything you want to hide or correct? That thick root is certainly a detriment, but if there are decent sized feeder roots closer to the trunk, it can be cut back to those. Maples will take a good bit of root reduction.
Is the first trunk section thick enough, or do you want it thicker? If it is thick enough, it does not need to go in the ground, as @Maloghurst said.
Cultural notes: Maples do well in wide and shallow containers where they can spread their roots. They will only bud at existing nodes and will not reliably throw buds at cut sites like elms.
BTW, @sorce always root prune before putting anything in the ground. If the roots are a mess before planting, they'll be an even bigger mess when you dig them up. Bonsai prefers quality versus time.
The trunk up to the first branch has a good amount of taper, so chopping there and regrowing the trunk would be the way to go.It's a trident
I would like better taper and better nebari. I think the trunk is thick enough.
Yes. Yes! Yes!!I have a few small Tridents. Should I root prune them before they go in the ground?