My first trident maple - inital styling

[Stewart_Toowoomba]

Hi everyone

I have recorded my first trident maple defoliation and styling - unfortunately i still need to wire as the rug rats found me out! I originally got the stock from Australian Bonsai Growers on the Brisbane southside. I believe it is a good time to defoliate and get a chance to view the tree naked. I took some of the top out but had a gnarly ball that needed triming. Tridents seem to do really well her in Toowoomba.

Your thoughts please. I plan to 'hide' a bar branch by having one at the rear of the tree.

trident left to grow.JPG

defoliated.JPG

initial styling - no wire yet.JPG

Charlie.JPG

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cheers

Stewart

[Damian Bee]

Hi Stewart, I would consider chopping that trunk down a lot more so you can get some taper, I'm just not sure whether now is the best time for that although you have defoliated? Anyone with lots of experience with maples?

[paddles]

I agree with Damien, to consider taking the trunk down by a third?? but I also notice you have left several bar branches... I'd clean up the bar branches, then leave it alone. (except if you chose to take the top off...

[Bougy Fan]

Yep it has no taper - needs to be chopped and regrown - probably several times to get a nice moving and tapered trunk. Have you investigated the roots - I have bought several tress from Steve and found the need a fair bit of work to tidy up the roots. Wouldn't worry about defoliating until you have it at the size and shape you want.


Tony

[shibui]

As a beginner you'll probably want to keep as much of the trunk as possible thats ok for now but have another couple of trees developing in larger pots for when you realise that this one has the problems the others have mentioned.

I'd advise do not hide bar branches, remove one wherever possible so you don't end up with a thick part of the trunk. It looks like there are plenty of branches on this tree to give side and back branches - youll be surprised how quickly the branches you leave will thicken up and fill the spaces.

[Guy]

I would remove both left and back branches at lower left-then air layer or chop just above the second bar branches--and use the right hand branch as the new leader--the upper area removed ( at the right time of year)has some nice shape and potential as another tree --someone here would know the best time for air layering or striking offcuts.

[Kikianna Bonsai]

Hey Stewart,
Your trident maple looks good. Now's the perfect time to defoliate so that was a good choice. I agree, you may aswell prune those bar branches now cos pruning will reduce the tree's energy required to cope with the recent defoliating and at the same time styling it which will in turn give the tree taper. I wouldn't worry about wiring at the moment cos you don't want over stress the tree too much. Defoliating takes alot out of a plant, so I would water with seasol and provide some afternoon shade for a while...and keep the watering up due to it being summer. In late winter/early autumn then you can repot (root prune) and wire/style.

I hope my suggestions help. I've had great results with my tridents in the past with this method.

Please keep us posted. I'd like to see how your tree works out.

Cheers Glen.

[Stewart_Toowoomba]

Thanks very much for the advice everyone.
Damian paddles bougy and shibui - yes i thought it needed further taper - i chose to defoliate it as i believed it was an ok time to do and I also wanted to get a good look at it bare. The bar branches do need attention and they are thickening higher up the trunk than i'd like. I've not had any experienc with tridents before and i'm assuming from your comments that they throw good back budding and foliage for future primary branching?
Guy and glen - thanks for the encouragement - i have never air layered before but getting two trees for the price of one sounds good to. I have to hit the wiki pages to see the right time to air layer a trident.

This tree seems to throw several potential branches from the one location on the trunk - and in a wheel pattern like a pine.... is this typical of tridents? If so then i spose you'd need to chose the best branch and cull the others.

First trident - first airlayering... it will be a tree of firsts - but i will go and cull the bar branches - point clearly taken.

Cheers and thanks for the advice everyone!

Stewart