Exposed root Japanese Maple...

[LanceMac10]

But you definitely seen substrate in the middle of the root mess. So...fine roots to feed have to be below.

If you keep moss where you have it, I wouldn't see too many problems. If you start trying to remove the "substrate" from within the exposed roots, I think you might run into trouble. There are roots in there, active roots I'm sure. If you repot next spring you can actually see just what kind of roots are in the container.


Apologies if it seems I'm bashing your tree, I'm just offering my thoughts. I wouldn't waste my time if I wasn't concerned with seeing you succeed. I got to wait on @WeeMac like a servant!!

That root over rock of mine died a couple years ago. That one still hurts. Not a great tree, but I had it for awhile. I'm 0-3 with Tridents. Freeze/thaw cycle in my area has been brutal the last three-four years....one year it was 20+ days of zero degrees at sunrise....in March!!!! I need to figure out a way to keep 'em frozen straight thru until spring. Still have about two weeks left until hard frosts are gone...the end of April!!!!


Enjoy!!!

 

[Cadillactaste]

If you keep moss where you have it, I wouldn't see too many problems. If you start trying to remove the "substrate" from within the exposed roots, I think you might run into trouble. There are roots in there, active roots I'm sure. If you repot next spring you can actually see just what kind of roots are in the container.


Apologies if it seems I'm bashing your tree, I'm just offering my thoughts. I wouldn't waste my time if I wasn't concerned with seeing you succeed. I got to wait on @WeeMac like a servant!!

That root over rock of mine died a couple years ago. That one still hurts. Not a great tree, but I had it for awhile. I'm 0-3 with Tridents. Freeze/thaw cycle in my area has been brutal the last three-four years....one year it was 20+ days of zero degrees at sunrise....in March!!!! I need to figure out a way to keep 'em frozen straight thru until spring. Still have about two weeks left until hard frosts are gone...the end of April!!!!


Enjoy!!!

I've had one...pretty strongly comment on my mucking the tree on FB. So...figured you were another one. She actually had me second guessing my work I did today.

Don Blackmond suggested I clean out the nest. But, Teddi strongly disagreed...saying it could collapse. I would imagine as you say...there could be live feeder roots in there. I can't really see what is in there. Other than the substrate and no visible rock as ones had thought.

The feeder roots were likened to a ROR by the age of the exposed roots and the bark them...which is why I referred to that style. Sorry to hear you lost it...that blows. Maybe a hardier maple? Or...a controlled cold greenhouse?

Well WeeMac was the title holder for when he signed up. That's what...life time servant on your part he won?

 

[LanceMac10]

Well WeeMac was the title holder for when he signed up. That's what...life time servant on your part he won?

Lucky me!!! Four years old tomorrow! Some little fellow is going to start getting a taste of "reality" pretty soon. Dinner time will now "trump" snack time!!
The moss? Looks ok by me, but I'm no "expert" Perfectly legit presentation in my eyes, it's seen often. Give us a full shot!!


The first few years I had the Trident, it was kept in my colleagues "root cellar", a more "controlled" siting such as you mentioned. Collection swelled as we took in several trees from an older associate whom could no longer care for them. I thought it was more acclimated than it was, unfortunately. I blame myself.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Well it's still wet...loved it. Now feel like I was beaten with a wet noodle. I'm exhausted...slept poorly last few nights. And... A long evening ahead of me.


Sitting lower on a bench...I sort of like this as a front...is that strange?

 

[JudyB]

second one is a better front if you ask me, for the root structure.

 

[Cadillactaste]

second one is a better front if you ask me, for the root structure.

Thanks Judy for contributing to the best front! That was my thought as well. But...I'm a bit agitated...and question if I even know how to walk and breathe at the same time.

 

[JudyB]

time to take a deep breath and chill...

 

[Cadillactaste]

time to take a deep breath and chill...

Just the entire day...but at the end of the day. Those in my household are healthy. Running on less than 3 hours of sleep...for the past few nights. Doesn't help. Then to second guess this step. Yet...I do like the front you chose.

I tend to like looking down on it where you see the one root connection the best. It's like...that's a beautiful thing. Then...I smile.

 

[pweifan]

Darlene, I like the lichen a lot. But... I think you should stick with a denser, tighter moss. One not quite as "frondy". I think it's competing with the roots a bit too much. I don't mean to poo-poo on all your hard work. I hope I'm making sense and helping Actually, if it would help I could mail you some moss next week. It might be easier to show you what I mean that way. We're in the same neck of the woods, so I'm sure it would survive. Let me know!

Scott

 

[Cadillactaste]

Darlene, I like the lichen a lot. But... I think you should stick with a denser, tighter moss. One not quite as "frondy". I think it's competing with the roots a bit too much. I don't mean to poo-poo on all your hard work. I hope I'm making sense and helping Actually, if it would help I could mail you some moss next week. It might be easier to show you what I mean that way. We're in the same neck of the woods, so I'm sure it would survive. Let me know!

Scott

Just the lichen? The sponge like stuff? It's just stuck in...not mucked. I'm not quite sure I like it either. Or...all of it?

 

[Cadillactaste]

Wish I could have found tighter moss... most was yellowish green mini fern like stuff...and this wacky soft but plush stuff sort of textured at different heights...Which is kind of cool...reminded me of a shag carpet. Then another brighter green long moss all one length.

Way to long to use on the tree...but to cool to leave behind.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I did go with the moss that I used with this frog accent. But it hasn't greened up all the way with early spring and all. Since it was mentioned to use moss that was from the ground and not on rocks earlier...

 

[MACH5]

Nice job Darlene. I'd like to see other angles if possible. I would try and stay with moss that's tighter for better scale. I think at the moment it looks a bit too shaggy and busy. Although if you do love it then that's fine too.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Nice job Darlene. I'd like to see other angles if possible. I would try and stay with moss that's tighter for better scale. I think at the moment it looks a bit too shaggy and busy. Although if you do love it then that's fine too.

Where does one locate such moss? I would be fine dampening what I did and replacing. .

The stuff that was tight...was very long. Didn't look it until I removed a piece from the soil.

 

[MACH5]

Where does one locate such moss? I would be fine dampening what I did and replacing. .

Usually between brick pavers, cracks on sidewalks and areas with highly compacted soil that get lots of sun. Most of what you find in shaded woody areas are the long hair varieties.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Usually between brick pavers, cracks on sidewalks and areas with highly compacted soil that get lots of sun. Most of what you find in shaded woody areas are the long hair varieties.

Ahhh...I was told by one. To collect from soil... a video of Ryan Neil I think last released. No wonder it's so long! Will go looking again and...mist this muck project to soften and redo...because when I think of moss...I think of the woods.

 

[pweifan]

Keep the lichen but replace the moss with a tighter moss. Sergio is correct on where to find it in the city. In the forest I have found it on the edges of paths or the base of trees.

 

[Saddler]

I find a lot of my fine moss in concrete stair wells that are in the shade. Curbs that don't have a sidewalk next to them that are in the shade are also good hunting, I find this nice tight moss that grows in circles. I stopped using anything that grows on organics as I found they brought a lot of weeds and bugs with them. Rocks just within eye sight of creek beds I have had ok luck with as well but the closer to the creek, the bigger the moss.

Look for places with no foot traffic, in the shade and have a source of water close, even if it is rain water pooling in a stairwell.

Here are a few pics of different mods I put on one of my trees, playing with the lay out. I put them down about a year ago but they were all about a 1/8 of the size. If you mist them with a very light fertilizer solution (1/4 recommended), they really grow. I ran out just now so the pics aren't the best. The round ones that make a trail around the tree in the second pic are my favorite as they are super tight and easy to grow and they don't take over.

 

[Saddler]

Oh yea, I love your tree! I had one that was kind of the same idea but with nowhere near the top you have and I tried to "save" it by root pruning it and killed it. Had I seen this I would have gone this route in a heart beat. Live and learn.

Also for the moss, you can rip it up and spread it out over dirt and grow big mats of it. that is what I did for my root over rock maple. Made it so easy to wrap the roots, just lay down big sheets and cling film it. I am planning on going moss hunting very soon, I will take pictures of where I find it for you if you are interested.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Keep the lichen but replace the moss with a tighter moss. Sergio is correct on where to find it in the city. In the forest I have found it on the edges of paths or the base of trees.

Here in the woods...it grows to well and is long. We have lovely tight moss in carpets...but far to long of a nap. Going to look around in sunnier locations. Because long nap moss even if tight won't work. I will take a photo of how long it is...it's NUTS!