AusBonsai

I purchased this Japanese maple last week, the trunk is nice but the roots?
Do I attempt to fix the roots?
Do I accept them as they are?
Do I try to make them a feature?

Gerard to answer your question is like asking a question or questions?

1 do you want a tree in a pot?

2 do you want a bonsai?

3 do you want a good Bonsai?

4 do you want an exhibtion tree?

I see the pontential to be an exihibition tree with some minor ajustments. To correct the roots to be a bonsai just lower the tree when you repot.

To be an exhibtion tree correct the roots at the next repot put some movement in the upper straight trunk refine the branching, and you will have brought out the pontential of this stock.

Cheers Pup

Maybe back into a Nursery pot for a while to fatten the roots up???

repot for the next two years at an appropriate time and at a slight angle(possibly to the left) into a pot the same depth but twice as wide and long--remove all roots directly under the trunk and spread the remainder ie flatten the root lump and uncross any tangled roots if possible. give the upper trunk more movement-perhaps a thread graft to fill in some of that negative space

Photo does not show tha there are very few roots at the back.
At this stage I am inclined to spend a few years growing an entire new set of roots and a few new branches. More time consuming but I think I will be rewarded.

Layer it.

Root graft or layer it above the current roots.
Only prob with layering is that the lowest branch would become too low and would warrant removal.
Grafting new roots, either thread or approach would be the best option. Certainly removal of the roots directly below the trunk, pulling the lateral roots out and combing them for a more radial appearance, and burying it for a few years will result in a better nebari, but the gaps in it you refer to may not grow roots.
At least with grafting you can put them in the correct place and you end up increasing the amount of roots and therfore potential energy the tree can have and use.
Good luck with it
Andrew

I'd agree with Pup, it's plonked too high on a mound - I doubt that you have roots at a level that would permit shallower planting. Perhaps consider cutting some of the roots back hard, and burying it deeply, then cut the rest back next year.

My concern is more that the two low branches are so much wider than the rest of the tree, and so close to the same level. Would you consider cutting back the first left branch to half it's length, losing the lowest right branch, filling out the next right branch and getting a slender, relatively tall tree? It might make the step sideways in the trunk look a bit more a part of the overall design.

Lots of good bones there to play with.

Gavin

Gerard wrote:Photo does not show tha there are very few roots at the back.
At this stage I am inclined to spend a few years growing an entire new set of roots and a few new branches. More time consuming but I think I will be rewarded.

I agree, as we cannot see the true formation of the roots, it is a bit hard to tell if grafting is worth the hassle.

Layer.