Cruiser
Omono
The plan is to use a tourniquet this time. With such a canopy, I’m hopeful it will root well-enough within two years.
Big ‘Little Gem’ vine maple (Acer circinatum)
- Thread starter Cruiser
- Start date
The plan is to use a tourniquet this time. With such a canopy, I’m hopeful it will root well-enough within two years.
Cruiser
Omono
Ground layered a tree June 14, 2025. Leaves were hardened off. A few lower limbs were removed to access trunk. Canopy vigorous, left alone.
Bark nuggets below girdle to provide platform for root disc.
Diced sphagnum directly against layer site. More than what is shown was added.
Bark nuggets substrate around and above sphagnum. Approximately 2-3” of substrate cover the layer site.
Current.
Tree grew well this season. No issues at all. Either the layer was successful or the girdle was bridged.
My initial plan was to over winter the layer then have a peek in Spring ‘26. Then possibly remove the layer then, or trim roots and remove Fall ‘26. I am not in a rush. Winters here are usually mild.
Would it be better to remove the layer now?
Bark nuggets below girdle to provide platform for root disc.
Diced sphagnum directly against layer site. More than what is shown was added.
Bark nuggets substrate around and above sphagnum. Approximately 2-3” of substrate cover the layer site.
Current.
Tree grew well this season. No issues at all. Either the layer was successful or the girdle was bridged.
My initial plan was to over winter the layer then have a peek in Spring ‘26. Then possibly remove the layer then, or trim roots and remove Fall ‘26. I am not in a rush. Winters here are usually mild.
Would it be better to remove the layer now?
Hack Yeah!
Omono
Looks good! I would leave it until spring. I wish you success
You gotta periodically check the layer to make sure its not bridging, otherwise you are wasting your time. Go check it now, but there is nothing you should do at this time of year. If it worked then wait and repot next year, if it didnt work, just girdle it again next year.
BrightsideB
Omono
Very cool cultivar! Wish you the best of success with it! I do think the size of the girdle is a little narrow. In comparison to the size of that trunk/tree and it’s vigor. It could callous quickly over it if root growth wasn’t initiated quickly. I get nervous doing ground layers. I have a couple to do in spring 27.
Cruiser
Omono
Maintenance work on another tree that was pruned Jan ‘25 and repotted March ‘25.
This Little Gem also had a good growing season.
-Remaining leaves were defoliated to prevent them from clogging up and breaking down within the canopy. Internal branching is so dense and leaves are small, it gets messy in there.
-Outer canopy trimmed. Dead branching removed.
-Branches with long internodes cut back. Fertilizing at the wrong time probably made this worse than it needed to be.
-Wire removed.
Beautiful yellow and pink coloration of new growth. Older growth is green becoming brown in age.
Plan for 2026:
Layer above graft.
This Little Gem also had a good growing season.
-Remaining leaves were defoliated to prevent them from clogging up and breaking down within the canopy. Internal branching is so dense and leaves are small, it gets messy in there.
-Outer canopy trimmed. Dead branching removed.
-Branches with long internodes cut back. Fertilizing at the wrong time probably made this worse than it needed to be.
-Wire removed.
Beautiful yellow and pink coloration of new growth. Older growth is green becoming brown in age.
Plan for 2026:
Layer above graft.
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