Trident Maple Progression

[damo19]

G'day all,

I have finally made some time tonight to get some of my bonsais onto the site. Here is my sentimental favourite, got him for a birthday present from my wife a couple of years ago. The last photo is a year old, but will have a new one up shortly, once I get some more time up my sleeve to get the pruining and re-wire done.

I would appreciate any feedback anyone has.

Cheers,
Damo

[kcpoole]

Nice lower trunk
I would remove the top section of trunk and then either regrow the top, our use a branch you have as the new leader to get some more taper in the top section.
also get some more bend in the "Join" of the lowere trunk and the middle section (where you have the wire now)/

Ken

[craigw60]

Hi Damo, Ken is right you have left way too much on top it would be much better to bring it right down and re-grow a new leader. The top as you have it has no taper and no movement, this could be corrected by growing a new top and wiring it for movement as you grow it.
Craigw

[damo19]

Thanks Ken and Craig, I think that's what I was expecting, just too afraid to do it yet. Does anyone think a defoliation and more images after this will help me get a better idea about where to make the cut?

Cheers,
Damo

[damo19]

I've just partially defoliated (I didn't see the point in doing the whole lot as I'm only going to chop it anyway). My thoughts are that I should retain the bottom two branches, any advice? Should I consider using one of the higher braches to get a leader, or hope for one to burst through below the chop?

Cheers,
Damo

[damo19]

Hello again everyone,

I've decided to finish the defoliation I started on the weekend, and think that maybe I should consider changing the angle of the front to obtain a bit more movement in the trunk line. The original position has a slight sway to the right before going dead straight up. The alternate front looks to move straight up, but then moves to the right. I've attached photos to show what I mean.

I'm really interested in getting some feedback about the best way to progress, and I'm convinced it is with a chop, I just don't know where. Maybe even a tlt of the trunk at the base?

Also, does that root at the base which goes from right to left across the front detract from the bonsai?

PS - Sorry about the shadow on the photos, it got a bit overcast with the rain this arvo.

Cheers,
Damo

[kcpoole]

Hi Damo

A little Virt for you with an idea of wht might happen
I used you current front, and chopped at the 3rd branch. I have grown a new top above that.
I have bent the Middle section above the first big cut to the left about 10 deg, to give some movement to the trunk at that junction.
The 3rd Branch needs to be slowed in growth to stop it getting too big, and the top is grown with movement back to the right

What concerns me, is the 2 bottom branches look to be too close in height. It looks a little like a Bar branch, and if you can lower one, or raise the other will be good

Ken
ps I really woud like to see in person before deciding, but it needs to be much shorter, with much more taper in the tree.
For a guide, the first branch should be about 1/3 the distance from the soil compared to the total tree height

[Chris H]

i agree with Ken Id raise the higher of the two bottom branches. Maples tend to have a less horizontal sense to their branching anyway so a bit of upward angle out of the trunk I think looks good and will remove the bar branching which does tend to halt the eye.

[damo19]

Thanks Hartos and Ken (again), I agree with your thoughts about the bar branch, although this is deceptive as you can see in the rear view that they are not level, but in the front image it appears level (probably due to the angle I took the photo from). However, could a tilt to the right help the right branch appear lower, and the first left branch higher?

Thanks for the virt Ken, do you think I will have any problems with budding where I need it? I'm happy to chop at the third branch, I guess the problem will be hiding the cut mark from the frontal view.

Thanks again, I really appreicate the help.

Damo

[craigw60]

Hi Damo, you mustn't worry about scars on tridents they will cover over with time. If you look closely at some of the Japanese tridents with extreme taper you will notice massive scars, thats part of the process of developing good trees.
Craigw

[kcpoole]

Glad you liked the idea
I agree the Bar branch may be a illusion only which is why a touch and feel in the Bark is best for definitive ideas

Re chopping it, I would have no worries about getting back budding where you want them, but if you are a little reticent, then cut back a bit higher up and see where it buds out. Once yu have a one where you need then cut back to that one then

Ken

[damo19]

Update:

Well I finally got around to chopping the trunk and I managed to get a shot right where I was looking for a new leader

Now to get some length on it and a gentle wire to get it in place with some movement, I should be able to match the virt that Ken suggested, cheers again Ken.

That shot of the new leader gives a better view of the first two branches and that they are not bar branches, some of those previous photos were deceiving

Cheers,
Damo