Trident Maple Styling Help

[MountainFrost]

I recently purchased this Trident Maple. I thought it had not bad taper and ok nebari. Im thinking of an upright sort of form... but I need some advice.

Front.jpg

IMG_7192.jpg

IMG_8301.jpg

IMG_1518.jpg

IMG_0815.jpg

IMG_2060.jpg

Thanks.

[Akhi]

G'day
Looks like you have scored a really good one. I would be tempted to build a broom style tree out of this. Essential chopping all branches except for the two right at the top and then letting two each from those two and so on.


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[Lane]

I thought broom straight away from those pics too.

[Daluke]

Good work asking for advice. It's good to get lots of ideas and then make your mind up.

I see a smaller tree with this material. The taper doesn't show in the photographs. The surface roots poke out at your eyes. They aren't in harmony and are too prominent.

A broom style tree is the easy option.

Give the tree some movement - it will look more aged.

I thought you could air layer the top half off. Then strip everything back to one branch. Go from there.

Take a risk...

[Ilithya]

I recently purchased this Trident Maple. I thought it had not bad taper and ok nebari. Im thinking of an upright sort of form... but I need some advice.

Front.jpg

IMG_7192.jpg

IMG_8301.jpg

IMG_1518.jpg

IMG_0815.jpg

IMG_2060.jpg

Thanks.

Sir, where did you get this one and how much did you pay for it? if you dont mine asking.

Thank you
Ilithya


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[MountainFrost]

I recently purchased this Trident Maple. I thought it had not bad taper and ok nebari. Im thinking of an upright sort of form... but I need some advice.

Front.jpg

IMG_7192.jpg

IMG_8301.jpg

IMG_1518.jpg

IMG_0815.jpg

IMG_2060.jpg

Thanks.

Sir, where did you get this one and how much did you pay for it? if you dont mine asking.

Thank you
Ilithya


Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

I bought it at Ray Nesci, in Dural. Im pretty sure it was $42.

[MountainFrost]

Thanks everyone for all the advice so far. Im very grateful!

[kcpoole]

I like a taller tree myself.

cut below the top knob of branches and select a new leader from one of the existing ones there and Grow on a little.
At next repot, tilt a little to one side and then Give some movement to the new leader with wire to bring the apex back over the base.

grow out a full canopy from the lower side of the trunk

Plenty of inspiration on Walter Palls site on taller more slender maples
for example this one
http://www.walter-pall.de/Bonsai%20Gall ... _3552v.jpg

Ken

[Ilithya]

I recently purchased this Trident Maple. I thought it had not bad taper and ok nebari. Im thinking of an upright sort of form... but I need some advice.

Front.jpg

IMG_7192.jpg

IMG_8301.jpg

IMG_1518.jpg

IMG_0815.jpg

IMG_2060.jpg

Thanks.

Sir, where did you get this one and how much did you pay for it? if you dont mine asking.

Thank you
Ilithya


Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

I bought it at Ray Nesci, in Dural. Im pretty sure it was $42.

Thank you sir

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[MountainFrost]

I have began cutting back on this tree. However I have reached a point where I really don't know what to do and can't really trust myself to make the right choice.
Here are the 2 proposed ideas.
1.

IMG_4896.jpg

Here I would use the circled branch as the new leader. I'm also unsure whether or not to remove the branches at the base of the tree, I don't know what to do with them, I feel that it would be a waste to remove them.

2.

IMG_4896 2.jpg

The other alternative is doing a small trunk chop and using a much smaller leader (circled). Again I have marked the branches i'm unsure about.

Any advice or help would be much appreciated. Thanks so much.

[shibui]

Some factors that may help decide which leader to use:
1. roots - which side of the tree shows the best surface roots. Nebari is important part of maples so choose the leader that will allow you to show the best roots at the front of the tree.
2 scars on the trunk - choose the leader that ill allow you to show the best side of the trunk at the front of the tree. Probably won't apply here because you only have small branches to cut off down low so you won't have any large scars.

If neither of those things are better on either side then it does not matter which new leader you choose. Just pick one and get on with it.

The lower branches will add thickness to the base of the tree but you will want to get rid of them eventually so don't let them get too thick or scars will take a long time to heal. sacrifice branches like that are a balancing act between maximum thickening and minimum scars. There's no real right answer so go with your feelings as to when it is right to cut them off.

[MountainFrost]

I went with my gut, and decided on the first leader. I also wired some branches in place. I'll leave the bottom branches to help thicken the base. Thanks for the help.