Trident maple repotting... new growth already??

[Qitianlong]

Hey all,

just returned from the US hoping to start repotting my tridents (in Sydney) and most of them are already shooting new growth... does this mean that I've missed my opportunity this season, or still ok to get to work?

sorry if this question has already been asked, haven't been online in a little while

QTL

[shibui]

Even down here in the cold I have a Chinese elm with lots of new growth - very strange.

If your trees are relatively young and healthy I think they could still be repotted even with new shoots. Over the last 2 years I trialled repotting tridents in full leaf (November and December) neither of them noticed and grew as well as ever. I think I posted the pictures on my blog (see signature below). Note that I have not yet tried this with older, established trees but with others repotting cedrus and ficus midsummer and pines in autumn I can't see why maples could not also be root pruned while growing.

[Scott Roxburgh]

If the leaves still have some red colour in them, they'll be right.

Put them in the coldest, darkest part of your garden until you can get to them.

Post a pic so we can see what you are working with.

[Qitianlong]

hey guys, thanks.
yes they are just small red leaves sprouting at the moment.
i've moved them into the darkest part of the garden.
some pics:

20140711_085416 (1024x768).jpg

20140711_085431 (1024x768).jpg