Acer griseum trunk chop

[Cruiser]

6/7/23
Approximately 6’ tall. 3” diameter trunk.



Chopped down to 18” height.




6/27/23
20 days post chop, red buds have emerged at nodes all over tree.



7/6/23
Nearly one month after chopping. New growth has emerged. Pinkish yellow-green in color. Pubescent. Older leaves browned on edges but remain.



7/20/23
First flush hardening off.



Leaves look remarkably similar to poison ivy/oak.


8/30/23
Other than some light deer nibbling on outer shoots, the tree has grown well with no major problems.
Come late fall or winter, branch selection will begin.

 

[Hguitard]

This looks awesome!! Not much info out there on these. Do you think chopping it below all leaves/branches would kill it? I have a tall one I’d like to reduce. The peeling bark looks amazing!

 

[Cruiser]

This looks awesome!! Not much info out there on these. Do you think chopping it below all leaves/branches would kill it? I have a tall one I’d like to reduce. The peeling bark looks amazing!

I don’t think so, as long as there are remaining nodes from which new growth can emerge. (Not 100% sure if the nodes are required, maybe someone else can confirm).

 

[0soyoung]

I don’t think so, as long as there are remaining nodes from which new growth can emerge. (Not 100% sure if the nodes are required, maybe someone else can confirm).

Yes, it (is a maple) buds only at nodes.
Repeatedly cutting at the same node (pollarding) will produce a profusion of buds, of course.
Quite often nodes will have 3-fold symmetry instead of the usual binary opposition.

 

[snowman04]

It looks to be responding well to what youv'e done so far...

 

[Cruiser]

It looks to be responding well to what youv'e done so far...

Yes it’s done very well this season.
The leaves are still green and not showing any color change yet.
When they drop branch selection will begin. There will be lots to choose from.

 

[Cruiser]

Many leaves were still attached but starting to yellow and/or get funky. Decided to remove them and see what twigs are there to work with.



Interesting buds.

 

[GGB]

Love it

 

[Cruiser]

February 10, 2024

Repot:

 

[Cruiser]

The nebari was under 3-4” of matted roots/soil. Previous soil line is visible on the trunk. Open air, sun exposure, and peeling should make it less conspicuous over time.


A girdling root created an indentation in the trunk.

 

[Dabbler]

I have one of these - yours is pretty nice though!

 

[Cruiser]

I have one of these - yours is pretty nice though!

How is yours doing? Any observations or anecdotes to share?

 

[Dabbler]

How is yours doing? Any observations or anecdotes to share?

Slow growing - as in my slowest tree - the single flush growth makes it a very slow tree in a pot - other then that I really like the uniqueness of it

 

[doc spring _work]

The first couple of photos made me think "oh I see a space for ground layering" after seeing its progress I regret that thought! The natural nebari is a lovely start and just digging up the trunk really adds some age with the good length of the trunk!

Happy this tree wasn't in my hands! I fear I might have jumped the gun and made a major mistake!! I still have many lessons to learn, love this form so much

 

[Cruiser]

Slow growing - as in my slowest tree - the single flush growth makes it a very slow tree in a pot - other then that I really like the uniqueness of it

Interesting that yours produces only a single flush of growth. I was under the impression they push like other maples.

 

[Cruiser]

6/9/24

Tree hasn’t skipped a beat since repotting.

Removed the two large trunks. They were growing away from the front and out of proportion for the final design.

Before:


After:


The plan is to create a child-like rendition of a park tree. Something broom-ish.

Like this but with more ramification.

 

[Cruiser]

Feb 12, 2025

After pruning last June, the tree pushed out some new buds from the trunk and redirected a lot energy into remaining dominant branches.

Here it is today.


Long branches were pruned back to even things out in preparation for Sprung Flush.


Sap is on the move!