Layering a Maple

[Chris H]

Dear All
Ive had a lot of blissfully unadverturous years in bonsai where I just pot the odd tree and experiment a bit here and there. Then I found you guys and Im inspired to try something new.
Ive never successfully layered and I have a tree which has a great nabari an ugly long trunk and a nice enough set of branches.
So I am going to have another go at layering to see if I can get two trees.
Is it too late in the year to set up a layer on a Maple in Sydney?

[Mojo Moyogi]

Hartos,
I would wait until later in the year, late spring or early summer. If you go slicing into a Maple at this time when the sap is flowing, the tree will leak like an old boot.
Cheers
MM

[kcpoole]

LOL
It is damn near summer here now
was 28 deg here on sat and sunday and last 2 days was 22, I really doubt we will get much under that now but there is always a chance. We will definitley not get any frosts tho

I am going to put 3 layers on a buxus on the weekend, and a really big one on a Grabapple at the same time.
I would give it a go if mine

ken

[alpineart]

Hi Hartos ,if it was mine i would wait until the first flush of leaf growth hardens off then set the layers .Cheers

[teejay]

I've had great success with layering maples, all done at the beginning of summerish when the leaves harden off. I'd stick with that time if I were you.

[Chris H]

Thanks all.
I had it in my mind I had to do it before the buds opened, great to know I can relax and do something else this weekend.

[miyagiman]

IF YOU HAVE LAYERED CORRECTLY AFTER THE LEAVES HAVE HARDENED OFF, THEN HOW LONG BEFORE YOU CAN REMOVE THE LAYER FROM THE PARENT TREE. JUST THOUGHT THIS INFO MIGHT COMPLETE THE EQUATION. THANKS, DAVE.

[alpineart]

IF YOU HAVE LAYERED CORRECTLY AFTER THE LEAVES HAVE HARDENED OFF, THEN HOW LONG BEFORE YOU CAN REMOVE THE LAYER FROM THE PARENT TREE. JUST THOUGHT THIS INFO MIGHT COMPLETE THE EQUATION. THANKS, DAVE.

Hi Dave i have layers on JAPANESE MAPLES and ATROPURPUREUM both calloused up but failed throw roots . I used hormone gel not powder for the first time and watered with a syringe. I believe that when watering with the syringe the gel was diluted or washed off too quickly .I have never had a failure with powder on a Japanese Maple .I stripped the plastic wraps off at the end of Autumn re-coated with powder and fitted plastic pots to the branches .If they work as they should it will be next autumn when i remove them .Usually green Maples take about 3 month to show however dont remove for about 6 months to be sure there is enough root growth to sustain the new tree . Red and ornamental's can be problematic taking 2-3 times longer to throw roots and you will have several failures , although persistance pays off

[Jordy]

Seems like Early Summer Late Spring is the go!

[miyagiman]

thanks alpineart for that info, i'm sure a lot of people including myself can put that info to good use. interesting to note the reluctance of the reds & ornamentals. maybe some experimental work is required here. thanks, dave.

[alpineart]

thanks alpineart for that info, i'm sure a lot of people including myself can put that info to good use. interesting to note the reluctance of the reds & ornamentals. maybe some experimental work is required here. thanks, dave.

Hi miyagiman , been persistant and experimental for a decade and haven't got it yet .Planted 500 mixed ornamentals and red seeds again this season however cant seem to get them passed 2 year old .They grow well for the first 2 years then turn up the toes .Haven't given up on them either .The Eddies tell me that is why they graft red and ornamentals , the roots aren't vigorous enough to sustain the plant. Cheers