My first Trident Maple

[Beano]

Ray I think what you're suggesting looks good but I'm pretty sure that your suggested 1st left branch is actually a back branch which you can see sticking sideways from the front view and has lined up perfectly with an old broken off branch knob on the front side of the tree making the branch look as if it's on the front side of the tree.

[BB Brian]

agree but where the lowest branch is would be the go, where the notch is about an inch above the nebari or the first branch is , but i'd lean towards the lower notch. It seems a waste of tree i know but the result in 10 years is something that a young fella like you can look forward to

WOW, thanks for the words of wisdom guys, and the visuals Ray - really helps a lot
I am considering chopping back to the first branch, not sure if i am ballsy enough to go any further noidea.
I've watched a video saying to leave as much foilage on the tree to develop a thicker trunk - could i wait a season or 2 before chopping back.. or would it be too late?

[Ray M]

agree but where the lowest branch is would be the go, where the notch is about an inch above the nebari or the first branch is , but i'd lean towards the lower notch. It seems a waste of tree i know but the result in 10 years is something that a young fella like you can look forward to

WOW, thanks for the words of wisdom guys, and the visuals Ray - really helps a lot
I am considering chopping back to the first branch, not sure if i am ballsy enough to go any further noidea.
I've watched a video saying to leave as much foliage on the tree to develop a thicker trunk - could i wait a season or 2 before chopping back.. or would it be too late?

Hi banong,
This is always a dilemma. The longer you leave the tree before making big cuts the larger the scar will be, and it will take longer to heal. If you cut your tree now and do a ground plant the tree will still develop fairly quickly but you will have a smaller scar to deal with.
If you put the tree in the ground you could consider planting in a colander. Ground Planting in Colanders

Regards Ray

[BB Brian]

agree but where the lowest branch is would be the go, where the notch is about an inch above the nebari or the first branch is , but i'd lean towards the lower notch. It seems a waste of tree i know but the result in 10 years is something that a young fella like you can look forward to

WOW, thanks for the words of wisdom guys, and the visuals Ray - really helps a lot
I am considering chopping back to the first branch, not sure if i am ballsy enough to go any further noidea.
I've watched a video saying to leave as much foliage on the tree to develop a thicker trunk - could i wait a season or 2 before chopping back.. or would it be too late?

Hi banong,
This is always a dilemma. The longer you leave the tree before making big cuts the larger the scar will be, and it will take longer to heal. If you cut your tree now and do a ground plant the tree will still develop fairly quickly but you will have a smaller scar to deal with.
If you put the tree in the ground you could consider planting in a colander. Ground Planting in Colanders

Regards Ray

I have come across your Colander post in the past and found it very useful, as soon we find our own place ill be planting several in the ground with Colanders haha
As of tomorrow I will have made my decision considering the trunk chop
On a positive note, i'll have a few decent cuttings

[BB Brian]

Hi guys,

Progress of my Trident Maple. Thinking maybe I should have cut back to first bud.

Question.
When is right time to trunk chop?
I've read early winter, web also says late spring to early summer, and others say I can do it now.







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[shibui]

I do hard pruning on maples any time except just before and after new buds in spring. The leaves on your trident have opened and started to harden so it will be safe to cut now if you want to.

[BB Brian]

I do hard pruning on maples any time except just before and after new buds in spring. The leaves on your trident have opened and started to harden so it will be safe to cut now if you want to.

If I trunk chop is there better chance my cuttings will strike in Spring or should I wait till Summer.


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[shibui]

I do not have much luck with trident cuttings. I find it far easier to grow from seed.
There should not be much difference between spring and summer cuttings I think.

[BB Brian]

I do not have much luck with trident cuttings. I find it far easier to grow from seed.
There should not be much difference between spring and summer cuttings I think.

Will try this long weekend
Cheers


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[BB Brian]

Deed is done. Now we wait. Ever so patiently.






Any tips? Full sun / half shade / full shade? Water as per normal or less due to no foliage? Fertilise?


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[bunce]

I think you were meant to keep the branch as the new leader . It will bud well, but you should grab some seasol powerfeed from bunnings and don't forget to read the label.

It will bud back nicely anyway.

If there is any tip for people I can give for people just getting into bonsai, and start a new species, is this: Don't let the size of the tree you buy dictate the size of the tree in the future. And to an extension of that: Chop it down and make a much smaller tree from everything you buy. This tree will make a great Shohin sized tree in 6, 7 years so keep at it!

Ill be checking back here next year to see the development.

[Boics]

This thread is well worth a read: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8312&hilit=trunk+chopping+steven

All the best, sometimes we need to move backwards to go forwards!

[benbonsai]

I would suggest a larger grow pot and planting it on a paver or something so the roots grow outwards.

[BB Brian]

I think you were meant to keep the branch as the new leader . It will bud well, but you should grab some seasol powerfeed from bunnings and don't forget to read the label.

It will bud back nicely anyway.

If there is any tip for people I can give for people just getting into bonsai, and start a new species, is this: Don't let the size of the tree you buy dictate the size of the tree in the future. And to an extension of that: Chop it down and make a much smaller tree from everything you buy. This tree will make a great Shohin sized tree in 6, 7 years so keep at it!

Ill be checking back here next year to see the development.

I've sprayed some seasol for the main pot and he cuttings I've come out with

Thanks for the advice, definitely a long term project

I'm thinking leaving it in shaded position for a week to let tree recover


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[BB Brian]

This thread is well worth a read: viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8312&hilit=trunk+chopping+steven

All the best, sometimes we need to move backwards to go forwards!

Awesome thread, I came across this a few weeks ago online but didn't follow it to the t when chopping

Lesson learnt always good to read over the process

Just had a look at the chop and there is a dormant but about a cm from the top cut. Cheerin.


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