Acer Pal - Newest Addition

This looks like some very promising material. It's hard to tell from these photos, but have you put any movement into the primary branches while they are still relatively pliable?


No, I haven’t. My plan is to cut it back hard sometime in the future to create that movement and taper in the branches.
 
Feed it! Then cut back hard after dormancy. if the Maple Masters think it’s time. 🤣🤣

Then root grafts next year.

At least that’s my thoughts. I’m open to suggestions.

I know waaaaay more about conifers. (And that’s Not really much, lol). Very much a nooob when it comes to deciduous.
 
Feed it! Then cut back hard after dormancy. if the Maple Masters think it’s time. 🤣🤣

Then root grafts next year.

At least that’s my thoughts. I’m open to suggestions.

I know waaaaay more about conifers. (And that’s Not really much, lol). Very much a nooob when it comes to deciduous.
This tree has great potential and will only get better year after year. Ideally, try to get as much movement as possible in your primary branches by wiring with movement both up/down and side to side before they fully lignify, grow out, cut back, then repeat... so I think you've got the right idea. I've always been happy with the seedlings I've received fro Matt Ouwinga... buy a decent pot for this tree, too, and I'll bet he will throw the seedlings in for free ;).
 
I hate this tree. Here’s my work the last 18 months. Don’t ever buy a tree from growing grounds. 😂😂

Winter 2019 Hard Cut back. Before and after:

667C0E10-B90D-4860-9EE8-D52E8C463E05.jpeg6EF8CAAD-9585-4116-9941-65E498B755E1.jpegGrew out well in the spring of 2020.
EE6337CB-AC68-4E28-ACE8-7078F657FBF5.jpeg
Showed some decent color this fall.
A76CF98E-B754-42C8-AB04-3CE94823EBF9.jpegA76CF98E-B754-42C8-AB04-3CE94823EBF9.jpeg
Naked before work:
F37C9C39-E737-4E6A-A2D8-A84AA7B0AE86.jpeg
And after.
BD8C24D5-A49F-4C01-955A-568D7BD5CF73.jpegFeel free to critiques and criticize, there’s plenty there to choose from. 😂😂😂
 
Some of those long internodes in the top need to be lost, but the lower branches are starting to run which makes the tree look so much better.

Feel free to shoot pinch the top Asap While letting the bottom still run, that way you can keep cutting the top back to short nodes at.

Love deciduous projects like this, nice to see you moving it forward every year.

PS just bought the same stand you have ;)
 
Some of those long internodes in the top need to be lost, but the lower branches are starting to run which makes the tree look so much better.

Feel free to shoot pinch the top Asap While letting the bottom still run, that way you can keep cutting the top back to short nodes at.

Love deciduous projects like this, nice to see you moving it forward every year.

PS just bought the same stand you have ;)
I love the stand. The tree, not so much. Lol.
 
Great progression on this tree. I wouldn't pinch at this stage. Let it grow, wire, cut back. Great find under the soil and nice to see this one will have great bark.
 
The tree I love to hate.

All but one root graph took. So that’s good.


The growth is course and imbalanced. The scars are massive and I think a large portion of the trunk is rotting.

But other than that, it’s a great tree 🤣🤣.

9A8D5253-67C7-416D-A88D-453A95100654.jpeg0CDB47A8-3188-4FC9-B7DB-64F9339F4E31.jpegB5FCDC25-4F6D-4843-8ABE-00BDD7313671.jpeg
 
Regarding 'course' roots, they dont look bad to me. you see lots of imported maples with nebari like this too, look at some of Walters trees which are worth 1000's and you'll see similar. You'll see similar at reputable bonsai shows too. I think maybe its a case of one wanting to make the tree into something its not. I think it has a great future as a 'spooky' looking maple. maybe id save the flawless nebari for another tree and work this one as is. just my 2 cents;)
 
Mach did suggest ground layering if root grafts arent successful, id maybe take a stab at a ground layer, but its not essential for me.
the general consensus on this thread has been to develop the branch structure..
 
its trees like these that makes me hate how long winter is, just cant wait to start playing with it in spring! looks nice and chunky, good grab!
Can't see why OP wouldn't start pruning it now (he's in TN anyway - with probably not too severe a winter). And after leaf fall is a great time to see and set structure on a tree. Once the leaves have fallen (or are ready to be pulled off), I've been doing any deciduous trees that needed structure work.
 
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