New Maple mega cheap

[SeanBarracudA]

I had my eye on a weeping style maple at a local hardware store / nursery. It was originally priced for $120, but it wasn't looking very healthy. It had been left in broad daylight, full sun, all summer. It looked like it was basically dead. I kept asking them if they'd put the price down. They said no. Then almost 6 months later I returned to the same place, the tree had been discounted to $70. The tree still had no leaves and the top of the tree was all dried up and very dead looking. I thought it was done for. Then a week ago, I returned to the scene of the crime. The top of the tree had been chopped off and there were 2 small points of vegetation sprouting. I asked about the $49.95 price tag. They said they'd drop it to $29.95... SOLD!

How old do you think this tree is?

What kind of Maple do you think this is?

Should I let it grow grow grow, then strike and air-layer half way up... two for the price of a very cheap one?

Where should I strike the layer?

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[shibui]

Depends on the height the original was grafted at. I'd grow these rootstock in 2 or 3 years. Another year, possibly 2 for the graft to grow enough to sell then into the nursery. You know the rest of its timeline.
This will be a seedling Japanese maple - Acer palmatum.

I'm not sure $30 for a very weak, very straight japanese maple trunk is really cheap but if you're happy.....

Air layering this trunk is a waste of time unless you want more dead straight trunks with no taper. If you are determined to grow this one, feed it well and let it grow strongly over summer to regain some strength.
Repot and do a severe root reduction early spring (there may or may not be a decent nebari under there) and cut the trunk back to one of the lowest shoots to start to get taper and some movement. From then on feed, water, grow, cut as much and as often as possible and keep fingers crossed that something reasonable comes from it.

[Boics]

I'd say the tree is 3-6 years old just by looking at it..

My advise would be too just let it grow healthily until after next spring when you can assess what you might do with it.
If you were to layer then you would be looking at two very similar bases - which could be a good thing?
This would give you one to grow and one to play with.

Pretty sure it's a bit late to be layering now so assess after the first flush hardens off towards the end of Spring..

Where to strike the layer would likely be determined via what pops out both during the remnants of this growing season and next...

[SeanBarracudA]

I think I'll probably end up making it an addition to my collection of straight trees for my forest plantation. This was my original thought.

[squizzy]

Hey Sean,

I think it still needs some taper even if it is going into a forest planting. If you have a quick google images search of plantings you will find most of them have taper. I would also agree with shibui that it isnt that great a deal$$$ but it is certainly worth planting out in the garden and fattening up or potting on next spring. Its a slow process getting the taper but you have a great start with this tree. I think its worth feeding and allowing it to recover first though.

Cheers

Squizz

[thoglette]

I think it still needs some taper even if it is going into a forest planting.

Agreed

I would also agree with shibui that it isnt that great a deal$$$

In Perth any live Acer is worth saving - it's good value here.

An alternative would be to cut it off just above ground level (layering the top of first, of course!) and grow into a broom or clump style plant. Then you will be taking advantage of the roots you have.

[Jason]

I've been eyeing one of at my local nursery too. Looks amazing, but I'm paranoid I'll end up killing it. If I see it for the right price though....