AusBonsai

Hi guys I've got a area in my backyard I would like to turn into a maple grow area. Its about 2mx3m I'll be planting different types of maples on cds,( found a bunch of old porn dvds) or some steal mesh I got from a mate, its really fine they use it to keep termites out, termimesh I think it's called.

I was wondering if I needed to place some type of dividers in the ground between each maple so their roots don't get tangled and to make it easier to remove and root prune later. If not needed what's the minimum distance I can plant them just to thicken up and remove later on. The maples aquired so far to go in there are trident, Japanese, coral and ginnala any other tips would be much apreciated.

Thanks
Tony

Don't think I would use the mesh, roots will find a way through, will be a mission removing later, stick with the DVD's.

Space wise wouldn't cram them too much, you need to be able to work around trees, also space will provide space for trees to grow. Initial thoughts would be three row across 2m width and spread them out. Would also depend on target size of trees, if planning smaller trees could fit more.

Like crag says do not close them up too much, but does not matter if the roots get in to each other as you will cut them back hard every year or 2 anyway

Ken

Alpine has a shirtload of growbeds. Check out his thread:
Tridents Galore

I don't like putting flat plates under the roots. I tried them once and found that I did not get the 45 degrees that you need to get a nice nebari. Once the roots hit the plate they grow out horizontally and are therefore useless. Better to just plant them after working well on the roots by removing everything from the bottom and spreading the radial roots as well as you can but always keeping that 45 (more or less) degrees transition from trunk to root. Tridents need to be dug every year for the first 5 and pruned well, then every 2 years after that.

I usually space my trees around 50-60 cm apart in the grow beds You need enough room to get a spade between them so you can cut the roots when you need to dig them up. Leave a but more room between the rows like Craig says. You ill want to crawl around and look at the trunks at some stage and you will also need to pull out weeds.

Thank you very much guys , just finished turning the soil and will let it rest until the weekend.
Will space out accordingly to what you guys suggested, now will just need to decide the order they go in.
As always your knowledge and tips is always appreciated.