AusBonsai

i have this trident maple here and i really dont know what i should do. theres a big wound in the front and i was thinking of carving it out a little and create some sort of shari but i dont know if i should wait until the tree matures a little bit more. overall i dont really know how i should design this. any help at all would be great and maybe a virtual if anyone is willing to do that it would be awesome.

thanks

nice starter stump mate, i can see some major potential in this one, when i get some time later tonight i will virt it up for ya mate


jamie

as promised, a couple of virts

this is one idea, you would need to either chop back or layer to create the taper in it.
second idea with a full crown, personally i like the look of this better, but thats just me thats going off this as the front, the nebari could do with a bit of work using thread grafts that would help very much in that open section in the middle.


jamie

the 1st one was nicer Jamie. but the both need a more rounded top

Nice stump too

Ken

kcpoole wrote:the 1st one was nicer Jamie. but the both need a more rounded top

Nice stump too

Ken

im with ya on that KC it was quick rough and dirty

jamie

I like big tridents and my first thought would be to remove the two thick branches in the left as we look at it. This will leave an array of thinner branches on a tapering trunk to develop into an impressive tree. I haven't joined the current fashion for Shohin only. Although some of my trees are a bit heavy to lug around, I still grow them like that. I agree with Jamie about thread grafting some new roots whatever size is chosen.

wow thanks guys, great ideas. i should have posted this before but here is a back side of the trident maple, im not sure if this would be a better front or not. what i dont like about this side is that the root on the bottom right has too much of a right angle and i dont think it looks too natural. other then that what do you guys think about this side?

I am suprised someone hasn't mentioned what sure looks like ill health to me?
How old is the picture are these old Autumn pics?

yeah i just took the picture a couple hours ago. i live in the US in zone 5 and we have been getting some really cold weather already.

Ah I missed you where a Seppo
That would explain the lack of leaves

I am glad you showed the other side as I was wondering about that also.
If this was mine I might use the second pic as the front. Although I would not close the book on that yet. There are two issues you face here as I see it. the base needs improving and you need to find the line and new leader for the tree.
With the base I would Graft at least one seedling into the gap that shows in the first pic and then I would wrap the base with something like Rafia so that the roots that are growing along the trunk of the tree in the second pic fuse to the trunk.
Then I would chop the top as indicated. I would also remove all the large stubs leaving only the lowest right branch on the right in the first pic (if nothing else it will help heal that scar for now) and the branches just below the chop as either one of these or advantageous buds that will sprout from the hard cut back I would be looking to use as a new leader.
The trick will be to compliment the slight but interesting movement of the base into what could easily become a very stiff upper section.

hahah i cant believe you called me a Seppo, but anyway i like your ideas. What size seedling should i use for the graft on the base?

i much prefer the back as the front and in addition to my virt the planting angle needs to be to tilted. either left or right could work.

eah nice virt cut the tree down the middle bang a small wedge in and split it a bit down the guts and go for a slight twin trunklike the last virt

jimmyle wrote:hahah i cant believe you called me a Seppo, but anyway i like your ideas. What size seedling should i use for the graft on the base?

I am glad I did not have to explain it. Comming from a surfing culture it has always been an enduring term for me
I would say a one year old seedling would be the go.

Antonios as well as all others are decent concepts. The main thing for me with this tree though would be to work the root base chop back and then let the tree talk to me on where it wants to go.

thanks a lot guys, your ideas really helped me get a new look on this bonsai. i have some other bonsai that i really dont no what to do on also, but ill save those for another time.