Japanese Maple

[teejay]

IMG_1686.JPG

Although I would definitely go about it differently now, I can't bring myself to chop and rebuild this one when its leaves come out in spring.

It's too thick in the top half I reckon but the leaves look so good on Japanese Maples.

Any opinions on whether I should keep it as is, or bite the bullet and grow a finer top section with better branching? I'll try and find a photo without leaves.


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[kcpoole]

Jeez I like it just as it is
Grow out the branching and foliage to have a nice full canopy and it will be a cracker of a tree

Something like this from Walter Pall is what I would aim at and very doable IMHO
http://walter-pall.de/Bonsai%20Gallery% ... des/01.jpg

Ken

[teejay]

Cheers mate, maybe I'll let her go for a while??

Aren't Walter's maples incredible! uts that seeming perfection that makes me look very critically at my own.

PS: you were involved in the thread on which I first posted this tree after buying it:

viewtopic.php?f=129&t=2026&hilit=Maple

[Andrew Legg]

My advice would be to wire all your branches a bit upwards like deciduous trees grow, and then let it grow out to a more rounded canopy. Nice potential.

[teejay]

Thanks Andrew. It is becoming more rounded every year, but it's a slow process.


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[Pearcy001]

Hi Teejay.

I hope you don't mind, but I drew a quick virt on my phone. I'm sure you could have pictured it yourself in your head but sometimes I find a virt is easier to process properly. All I did was extend all the upper existing branching to give it a more rounded canopy. I also ever so slightly shortened the bottom left branch. I'm with Ken and think it could be a very beautiful formal upright and very achievable.

Cheers,
Pearcy.



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[teejay]

Thanks Pearcy that's awesome! I've never tried a virt before but I can see the benefits now. That really does give me something to work to.

I knew it had to become rounder, but palmatum throw out such long internodes sometimes it feels like you're forever cutting back! I've started to have more success in this area in the last few years by leaving the odd vigorous shoot to help reduce the length of others, and then I chop it off. Seems to work well anyway.

Cheers!



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[Pearcy001]

I've started to have more success in this area in the last few years by leaving the odd vigorous shoot to help reduce the length of others, and then I chop it off. Seems to work well anyway.

No worries at all. Thanks for the tip about the extending shoot! I'll definitely be keeping that in mind.

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[Daluke]

I hate it.

Want to sell it??

I think it looks great and agree with others comments. Do you have a shallower pot? I think the pot it's in is too deep.

Easy fix anyhow.

[kcpoole]

I like it's pot that it's in. It's about as deep as the width of the trunk which is my depth guide

Nice virt and pretty close to what I was thinking.

Ken

[teejay]

Pearcy: no worries, works for me often.

Daluke: thanks mate. You think the pot is too deep? It's about the width of the trunk which is quite normal. I quite like it. I admit I'm not a huge fan of the tree rising from an ultra shallow pot look though.

Thanks for the comments mate.


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[teejay]

Ha! I missed your comment Ken prior to replying. I agree, width of the trunk is my rule also.

Cheers


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