Bud back on old maple

[amazingzacmac]

I have an old maple that isn’t budding back on the old wood. How to I encourage bud back? I already pruned the spring growth to see if it would bud back, but now it’s early summer and no old wood bud back.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Just let it grow unchecked and it should eventually back-bud; looks like it was chopped fairly recently so just give it some time. You can also use some of that long growth to thread graft next spring if a bud doesn’t break where you want it.

 

[Shibui]

That trunk does not look all that old so it should be possible to get some buds.
Tree vigour plays a big part in the number and strength of buds after pruning. If the tree was not really healthy when chopped this may be as good as you'll get. I'd endorse the above - let it grow, feed well and get it really healthy and cross fingers that something will happen.
Buds on older wood can also take some time to emerge. Fingers crossed that some are still slowly swelling under the bark.

Next step is to research grafting for bonsai. Thread grafts are the best way to add branches where they will not grow. Approach grafts would be a second choice.

 

[Paradox]

What they said and feed it well

 

[amazingzacmac]

Just let it grow unchecked and it should eventually back-bud; looks like it was chopped fairly recently so just give it some time. You can also use some of that long growth to thread graft next spring if a bud doesn’t break where you want it.

Okay! Thank you!

 

[amazingzacmac]

That trunk does not look all that old so it should be possible to get some buds.
Tree vigour plays a big part in the number and strength of buds after pruning. If the tree was not really healthy when chopped this may be as good as you'll get. I'd endorse the above - let it grow, feed well and get it really healthy and cross fingers that something will happen.
Buds on older wood can also take some time to emerge. Fingers crossed that some are still slowly swelling under the bark.

Next step is to research grafting for bonsai. Thread grafts are the best way to add branches where they will not grow. Approach grafts would be a second choice.

Okay. Is fast set fertilizer fine? Or slow release Japanese fertilizer?

 

[Shibui]

All fertiliser has nutrients. The tree cannot read so it does not care if the packet has Japanese writing or English. Just be aware of how long the fertiliser is active for. Liquids tend to be fast acting but wash away quick so need to repeat every week or 2. Slow release only lets a little nutrient out each time you water so you will need more in the pot but it does not leach quickly which means you only need to apply every few months.

 

[amazingzacmac]

All fertiliser has nutrients. The tree cannot read so it does not care if the packet has Japanese writing or English. Just be aware of how long the fertiliser is active for. Liquids tend to be fast acting but wash away quick so need to repeat every week or 2. Slow release only lets a little nutrient out each time you water so you will need more in the pot but it does not leach quickly which means you only need to apply every few months.

Okay!