Maple- Where do I begin? Pics included

[bonsaiarmy]

photo.JPG

I purchased this Maple from a local market for $70 (I'm not sure of the specific species, is it a Trident?).

Now I don't know where to begin! If you have some creative ideas you'd like to share with me please feel free to reply.

Things I've noticed as a beginner are:
-Nebari is damaged and there are lots of gaps which I plan on filling with grafts.
-The base of the trunk is nice and thick, however the respective trunks/branches are all straight and lacking character.
-Leaf size is a little larger than I'd like.
-The tree is healthy and sending off heaps of new shoots.

Here is a close up of the base/front of the tree trunk:

photo1.JPG

Here is a picture of the tree from behind:

photoback.JPG

Finally, here is a mundane picture of my idea for the tree:

photo.JPG

1. The white line indicates the current horizontal plane on which the tree sits
2. The grey line indicates the angle I would like the replant the tree on
3. The blue area represents a chunk of foliage I'd like to remove in an effort to give the tree some character.


What do you think?

Steve.

[Bougy Fan]

Hi Steve
Yes it's a Trident. Not sure how much of a newbie you are, but being deciduous you can't do any major work to the roots until it goes dormant. It needs all but one of the "trunks" cut off - having 4 from one spot will cause a bulge and make it near impossible to get taper. I would chop those and get it to have some taper first before worrying about any of the branches. Let it grow on for a bit before you do any more work after the chop.

Tony

[kcpoole]

Lovely trunk base you have there bonsaiarmy.

As tony mentioned. Time to worry about the branching later, but you have to sort out the trunk and roots first.

My suggestion will be to cut back hard to 1 trunk only and have picked the 2nd from the left to illustrate
All the others are removed and next year at the end of winter, repot and attend to the roots. Looks like you have 2 problem ones there, both the thick one at the front and one going the other way too. I would take them both off when you repot and then tilt the tree to the right about 15 deg.

Ken

[bonsaiarmy]

Thanks Tony, and thanks for the image/input Ken, I think I'll follow your guide. Will post updates when they happen.

[Paulneill]

I love it . I trunk chopped a trident last winter along with an elm to try and create triple trunk style with them .I would remove the lowest branch only and try and use the remaining trunks. I would cut them all back and build taper into them after bending them into better positions if required. sort of like an upside down tripod with one being the main central trunk in the design and two
Smaller trunks either side
The roots need sorted either by layering or because there is no room a type
Of wire torque could be applied to the
Lowest part of the base . Then all secondary branches could be wired into position using triple trunk style .
Triple trunk is what I think to be the best looking most natural style . Try googling triple trunk maple for inspiration and a better idea of what im saying .

[Paulneill]

After a second look i don't even see the need to bend any trunks . I reckon this has been trained already to be a triple trunk or a nice coincidence . Wish I owned this .'

[DavidN]

Hi bonsaiarmy
I see that you are a member of my club Bonsai Northwest Inc in Melbourne. You might know that we run a number of workshop nights throughout the year and if you are in doubt about where to chop and how to style this tree then you can always wait until these workshop nights to get hands on advice from our more experienced members.
See you in the new year.
David

[Bretts]

This was my first thought

c_pall_maple_001.jpg

[bonsaiarmy]

Hi Paul,
I think you're spot on. And yes, the old fella who sold it to me had a few similar size/shaped tridents so they must've gone through trunk selection at some point in time. It's a shame you're not in Melbourne, he had a few more equal in size/price.
For anybody interested in Melbourne, it was a small outside stall at the Laverton Market, definitely a diamond in the roughest of roughs haha.
I'll bring the tree along to the club David, until then I'll hold off with the trunk chopping. Until then, take care.
Thanks for all the input everyone.
Steve.

[bodhidharma]

This was my first thought

If you can replicate what Bretts has shown you that would be the way to go.

[Paulneill]

That is the very tree I'm using as inspiration . Notice how the 3 trunks have little movement and taper . With your tree I don't think the main leader needs cut back as far as the outer 2 trunks. The outer 2 probably need cut back to an inch or 2 of the base. And the main leader could be left longer maybe cut back to 4 or 5 inches .

I wonder what size that tree of Walters is the leaves look tiny in comparison .

[Bretts]

Several years back Walter took us through the process of creating a tree such as this when he accompanied a friend to a nursery, purchased the stock then gave it the initial trim.
Will have to give it some thought how to search that out

[Bretts]

Hmm I am starting to think that was on the old BT and now lost. I wonder if Walter would re-publish that adventure as it was a great read

[Paulneill]

That sounds good Bretts . Would love to see that if u come across it .

[Craig]

Hmm I am starting to think that was on the old BT and now lost. I wonder if Walter would re-publish that adventure as it was a great read

Is this the one you were refering to Brett?

http://walterpallbonsaiarticles.blogspo ... glish.html