Amur maple

[Bretts]

I bought this tree from Ray Nesci two winters ago so this is it's second growing season with me.
Here it is as I got it.

amur2.jpg

I chopped it back and re-potted in spring.

amur chop.jpg

I was going through a "The Japanese grow their trunks in bonsai pots so why don't we" phase but was unhappy with how slow it was growing towards the end of the season. So I slip potted into a wooden box.

The new leader grew well after that and a few weeks ago I cut the new leader back and reduced the amount and length of branches. The batteries where flat in the camera that day so I did not take a picture.
Here is the tree today less than 3 weeks after I had cut it back.

amur.jpg

I decided it was time to make some decisions on branches and start working out the structure.
After a chat with Matt in the Bonsai Vault Maple Study Group about branch development I made the move.
This is the result.

amur branches.jpg

Still a long way to go. I may need a front left branch towards the top but I will see as it starts to fill out?

[Bretts]

Thinking some thing like this ?

amur branchesv.jpg

Oh and this is another chandlers kitty litter part mix on it's second year!

[Ash Barns]

Brett I looked at the tree in BV chat and for me I would swing the third branch to the back. I would leave the apex as it is to create taper. Then cut when that is achieved.

Ash

[jarryd]

coming along nicely brett, root grafts might work to improve the nebari if you can be bothered and have spare stock around.

its good to see some progressions getting posted they are my fav type of post.

kind regards jarryd

[kcpoole]

Yep nice Bretts
I agree with Jarryd re the progressions.
they are in themselves a wonderful teaching experience for us all

Ken

[Petra]

Looks good to me.

What size is that wooden box, & why a wooden box. Is that something better than a styrofoam box. And while on the subject is it safe for trees be grown in a treated box. Asking because my love brougt me home a few long treated boxes from work.
I too love the progression notes, and Brett this tree has come a long way in such a short time. You never hesitate do you,i still havnt progressed from much other than planting out my trees. Oh no, i did prune my chineese elm 4 days ago but didnt take a before photo so now i wo'nt be posting that one. cheers!

[Bretts]

I think I must have been thinking ahead and took some pictures of the root base when I re-potted it so that I could remember as I re-grew the trunk.

Here is a close up of the current front.

amur3.jpg

One other option that I could still take gives some interesting angles. The red line is where I believe I chopped the trunk.

amur4.jpg

Here is another angle on the front I have chosen for now.

amur6.jpg

The first red line shows the viewing angle. Turning the root to the left just far enough away that it is not pointing at the viewer. (A) is a medium sized root and (B) is a root that has struggled to survive. I thought it might have died but only the top surface has I better put some spag moss on it to help it through.
It could possibly benefit from a graft in this area It could go where the blue line is but it looks like there is a young root here anyway. It was the flare of the base that meant I had to get this tree.

Petra it is progressions like this that show results can be fairly quick and advice from others that encourage me to get stuck in

Ash that third branch is a back branch. It may look a little funny at the moment as I have it growing up a bit as I see a possibility that it will fill a space above the first left branch as well as being a back branch.
As per crappy virt.

Yep progressions are great I would love to see more

[Jamie]

brett,

nice work

i take it you have exagerated the new leaders curvature for when it starts to thicken this will minimise to a degree?
otherwise i think it could be a little more subtle to suit the rest of the trunk line:D but you have plenty of time. so not to worry

jamie

[Bretts]

It's a bit hard to see how the leader works in this picture. I believe the new leader is heading at the correct angle to imitate the rest of the trunk and balance the tree. It does move at a decent angle as a plus

Just to clarify there is about 14 months between the 2nd and 3rd pics in the first post. Early spring and late spring one year apart!

The wooden boxes are just handy Petra and the trees do like them as well. The wood often seems to encourage microzia.
I have used wood with stain on them. I have never had any lead paint or termite treated wood to use and I may be cautious of that?

[kcpoole]

Petra
Wooden grow boxes are good because you can make them any size you want to suit the tree, and thy are environmentally friendy. Having said the, reusing poly boxes putthem to a good use too
Downside is they are heavy

[Bretts]

Oh that too

I always think this tree will be heavier than it is when I pick it up. I love this size tree

[Bretts]

After great growth the first half of last season this amur was a little disapointing in the second half. On repotting I was suprised to find the root growth had not been great. Looking good agian this season for a year of unrestrianed growth. Another year of branch refinment after that and it should be ready for a display pot

005.jpg

[Bretts]

I have found this tree a little frustrating to work with. It has great growth but when I cut it back it stalls for the rest of the season. I am taking a different path this year and constantly tip pruning the tree. Lets see how that goes.

amur.jpg

I am also frustrated with the leaves looking undernourished but apparently that is common in this tree. I will just keep the fert on coming and see what happens.
Might help if I could keep up with the bloody weeds on this one

[bodhidharma]

have you done a complete defoliate of this tree yet, it looks healthy enough.

[Bretts]

No can't say I have defoliated Bodi. It could be worth a try but I lost a little root over rock one a couple of years ago when the fungus hit me after defoliating. Almost anything I defoliated with it carked it so I am not keen on that at the moment. But it is worth keeping in mind for later in the year. Maybe a partial defoliation.
I am keen to see where this continual pinching takes me at the moment. I read about this very early pinching for another species that acted like those English elms (Summer dormancy that does not end) and thought it was worth a try. Going to try it on an English elm as well.