AusBonsai

I believe the idea is that it is done late enough that the tree will set new buds but they do not open. I use Harry's advice on his website alot but there is a difference between branch pruning and trunk chopping.
I asked this specific question of Peter Adams a couple of years ago. It was specifically a hornbeam and major branch/trunk reduction but I took it as general for most deciduous. He said late Summer early Autumn and also noted that just that information itself was worth the cost of the demo I attended so I have given it much wieght.
Please yourself but I do believe there is a time late Summer early Autumn that is opportune for cutting back hard.

First off mate, that is a great start on the nebari.

I agree, Fall (autumn) is the time for chopping maples, and repotting in early spring before the leaves lose their reddish colour.

For the most comprehensive, easy to follow information on maple bonsai I recommend that you get Boon's maple DVDs:
http://bonsaiboon.com/pages/shopping.html. They go through the what, why, and when for maples.

Another great bonsai resource near you is Bill Valavanis (NY) - some of his maples are world class.
http://www.internationalbonsai.com/

The third recommendation is Suthin Sukosolvisit (MA) - Again, world class.
http://www.royalbonsaigarden.com/

Bretts wrote:I believe the idea is that it is done late enough that the tree will set new buds but they do not open. I use Harry's advice on his website alot but there is a difference between branch pruning and trunk chopping.
I asked this specific question of Peter Adams a couple of years ago. It was specifically a hornbeam and major branch/trunk reduction but I took it as general for most deciduous. He said late Summer early Autumn and also noted that just that information itself was worth the cost of the demo I attended so I have given it much wieght.
Please yourself but I do believe there is a time late Summer early Autumn that is opportune for cutting back hard.

Thanks Bretts! I'm still searching around for other peoples advice, but if everyone else says now would be fine I'll go ahead and chop!

Scott Roxburgh wrote:First off mate, that is a great start on the nebari.

I agree, Fall (autumn) is the time for chopping maples, and repotting in early spring before the leaves lose their reddish colour.

For the most comprehensive, easy to follow information on maple bonsai I recommend that you get Boon's maple DVDs:
http://bonsaiboon.com/pages/shopping.html. They go through the what, why, and when for maples.

Another great bonsai resource near you is Bill Valavanis (NY) - some of his maples are world class.
http://www.internationalbonsai.com/

The third recommendation is Suthin Sukosolvisit (MA) - Again, world class.
http://www.royalbonsaigarden.com/

Thanks Scott! I've heard much about them and the quality of their maples. They live a few hours from me, so maybe one day I'll go visit their nurseries and see their trees in person!


Another question, if I bury the roots upon repotting and let this guy grow, will those roots eventually grow bigger and fuse together to create a 'melted' kind of base??

You would want to cut the lower roots, so that the upper roots take over, then try some root grafting.

My suggested timeline for your tree:
Now - Fertilise
Late Fall - remove all leaves after they have coloured and about to drop. Chop to the lowest growth/branch, seal the cut. Fertilise.
Winter - nothing/over winter if cold enough.
Early Spring - Repot, wait a month then fertilise and let the tree grow.
Mid Spring - Wire, then fertilise and let the tree grow.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23851662@N03/6054213689/

That is a nice example of this beginning to happen in "nature".