Yamdori Red Maple

[berobinson82]

I posted on this tree a long while ago and can't find the thread. I thought it was a hornbeam, turns out it was a red maple. This past weekend I got around to doing some preliminary carving and put it in a suitable training pot. Besides taking a good chunk of finger and even more chunks of thick roots, it was smooth sailing. The tree/pot/soil lost about 50lbs in the process.

Note the rootball. It was planted in turface (yup), pumice and chicken grit. I only had to shake the tree to take off ALL of the old soil. Repotted in a mix of akadama, lava, pumice.

Though I lost a good bit of branching, perhaps due to unhappy roots in water retentive soil, I believe I have just enough to make an attempt at an old and battered tree.

More on the blog.

 

[berobinson82]

Few more shots:

 

[Giga]

Love it! just be aware that you may need to use a wo0d hardener a few times a year. I have a red maple too and the wood rots pretty fast

 

[berobinson82]

Love it! just be aware that you may need to use a wo0d hardener a few times a year. I have a red maple too and the wood rots pretty fast

Very good idea. I've a tube in the garage. There was indeed some rotted, punky wood in the center of this trunk that we took out. Thanks for commenting.

 

[pbethune]

What brand of wood hardener do you use?

 

[sikadelic]

I really like this tree. The carving looks great and very natural. Good luck with it and I will be watching for more updates!

 

[berobinson82]

What brand of wood hardener do you use?

A mentor from my club gave me a bottle of Elmer's Rotted wood stabilizer. It's all I've used to be fair:

http://www.amazon.com/Elmers-E760Q-Rotted-Stabilizer-16-Ounce/dp/B000I1RXHE

 

[pbethune]

thank you

 

[lordy]

That's a bruiser of a stump Berob. I just repotted a smaller version and have fingers crossed.
Regarding the wood hardener, I have used Minwax brand on a bougie I have, and it seems to have done a nice job so far. It's been at least a year. I should probably reapply soon for best protection.

 

[Giga]

I use minwax as well and apply in fall and spring