AusBonsai

I first posted this tree here viewtopic.php?f=19&t=14761&hilit=+maple+maple when it got badly burnt. Since then it powered on. I bought this tree from Bodhi in 2013. It had one of the ugliest roots I've seen on a tree. I decided to layer the base and get a good nebari happening. The first attempt was poor wiht only 1 root growing with a lot of callous happening. I re cut the layer and buried again with spag moss and diatomite. Second time around was not much better with only 3 good roots growing. I decided 3 was a enough and cut the base of. I figured it would either grow more roots cause it had to or it would die. Well it grew more roots and lots of them Because it had taken some time to grow roots and it calloused a few times it had pushed the bark out a lot so now has a very flared base.
I potted it up today into a bonsai pot. It has some other issues with branching that will take time to correct but at least it has a good base now. Not sure how this tree will end up as there are some serious issues with branching but as the nebari is fixed time will tell on the branching.

Josh

Very nice root work. You could not have asked for a better outcome.

Dont you love a successful Air layer Josh. Onya mate I am glad you are doing something with it (saved me the job) and the tree is worth it for the Autumn colour, had any yet Maybe start pruning the branches heavily for backbudding and go from there. A long term project but thats Bonsai.

I wasn't aware that Acer Campestre would work in such a warm climate.

They are used here in Holland as hedging plants.

jeremy_norbury wrote:I wasn't aware that Acer Campestre would work in such a warm climate.

Hi Jerry, nice to see you pop in.
these guys are in Victoria, so not so warm down that way

I think that they tolerate warm weather Ok as they are native through to Turkey which is hot in summer in many places.

Ken

They do need the cold and at the moment in Central highlands we are getting 0 mornings. Brrrrrrrrrr!

treeman wrote:Very nice root work. You could not have asked for a better outcome.

Thanks treeman, pretty happy with the base now.

bodhidharma wrote:Dont you love a successful Air layer Josh. Onya mate I am glad you are doing something with it (saved me the job) and the tree is worth it for the Autumn colour, had any yet Maybe start pruning the branches heavily for backbudding and go from there. A long term project but thats Bonsai.

This layer took a bit to get there but worth it for the result. Agree on the autumn color. Got nice color from it this year. I need a branch down lower on the right so might have to thread graft one if i cant pop a bud where i want. I'll let one branch grow out a little for that purpose and start working on the rest.

jeremy_norbury wrote:I wasn't aware that Acer Campestre would work in such a warm climate.

They are used here in Holland as hedging plants.

No problems growing them here as it gets cold enough over winter. Just need to watch the sun over summer as you can see in the link above.

This tree wil be a long term project as Bodhi said. The branching needs a lot of work but am learning a lot from improving the trees issues so all good. I think everyone should have a problem tree to push your boundries on.

Josh.

Josh wrote:I think everyone should have a problem tree to push your boundries on.

Hi Josh, could not agree more and i have several. I dont want to be a stickler but it is..Campestre (Field maple)

bodhidharma wrote:

Josh wrote:I think everyone should have a problem tree to push your boundries on.

Hi Josh, could not agree more and i have several. I dont want to be a stickler but it is..Campestre (Field maple)

Yes you are correct, I forgot to p