AusBonsai

I started growing Japanese maples as informal upright style trees and while they look good, When I started to really look at older Japanese maples I realised they nearly always grow as multi trunk trees with gracefully bending trunks from near the base taking the role of branches. Look for a few and see what I mean.
So I started to develop a few as multi trunk trees. Here's the results so far. This tree stands 42 cm tall and 45 cm wide. Nebari is 9-12 cm depending on where you measure. How does that stand in the trunk ratio stakes? I actually think that for a Japanese maple it is a bit heavy. For me, Jpanese maple should be slender and graceful.

There is still some decisions to be made on this tree. The branches on the right are a bit awkward and one or more need to be removed and /or moved but I can't decide which yet. The top of the right branch is also a bit clunky and needs to be reduced but again there is no obvious place to cut. The main trunk also lacks taper towards the top. I think it was Bodhi warning about developing branches and trunks too quickly. This is how it ends up - poor taper and lacking in feature.
Any ideas on future development are welcome.

Shibui you are on to it!!! but your photo is too small and difficult to virt with. I would have loved a bigger one to play with.

They're reduced to ease uploading, etc. Try this for size

Sorry guys that's the same pic This one is original size (I hope)

A very nice Maple Shibui I love the multi trunks. I get about 1:4. I do like graceful Maples but they don't always have to be tall such as Walters new edition here See more of it here
http://walter-pall-bonsai.blogspot.com/ ... roved.html

I agree that the trunks are lacking a little in taper. It is an easy fix but I am not sure you will like my idea

While you are on it, here's another one to ponder I took a heavy branch off the left trunk. Note the smaller branch below was wired UP to fill the space. Normally we wire branches down, but in this style the main branches grow upward and curve outward to form the branch layers.
With this tree the shorter, left trunk is thicker than the dominant trunk. i will have to retard it until the main trunk thickens more. it does have reasonable nebari though

Nice to see some deciduous trees being worked on.

They are not as spectacular when used as demos so often overlooked. Its slow and steady with them.

Grant

Aint that the truth