First steps after getting a tree from a nursery?

[velocifasor]

Hey there. I would like to start a Maple Bonsai project but I'm not sure how to start. I found a nice nursery that sells grafted Acer Palmatum cultivars, and I've been watching a lot of Peter Chan's videos. The thing is, once you are working with a tree of a certain size/shape prunning seems more straight foward, but I haven't seen any videos where the prunning techniques are applied to a tree this young / at this stage.

The ones this nursery sell are in 3L/1gal pots and I have a hard time thinking what initial prunning I'd apply to any of these trees that are in the right direction to achieve a desired shape over time.

For example, in one of the photos the tree looks like it's way past the average Bonsai height, so would the main trunk be cut at the desired height in that case to encourage side branches growth over the years afterwards? The other photo shows a rather short tree, with so many side branches going everywhere.

Any advice would be appreciated. I'm also looking into some books (the one by Andrea Meriggioli has been recommended a lot).

 

[19Mateo83]

Welcome to the nut house! It will help if you add your location to your profile that way we can give you more location specific help.

 

[BrianBay9]

Step 1 is getting the trunk to your desired thickness. That usually involves potting up or planting in the ground and letting them grow for a few years. The trunk can often be wired early to put some movement in the lower part of the tree.

When you're happy with the trunk diameter, you can prune back the top growth hard. That should stimulate dormant buds on the trunk to pop. Select the ones you want for limbs and let them grow to your desired thickness, prune, begin again.

 

[velocifasor]

Step 1 is getting the trunk to your desired thickness. That usually involves potting up or planting in the ground and letting them grow for a few years. The trunk can often be wired early to put some movement in the lower part of the tree.

When you're happy with the trunk diameter, you can prune back the top growth hard. That should stimulate dormant buds on the trunk to pop. Select the ones you want for limbs and let them grow to your desired thickness, prune, begin again.

So many questions!

How do you handle height during that period? Do you eventually chop the main trunk around your desired height to stimulate side branches and start the shaping process?

If I aimed for the following shape, does that mean I wouldn't start working on side branches (even the lowest one) until the trunk widening phase is finished? Or to the contrary, should I pick a young tree that already has low side branches?

Thank you for your time!

 

[leatherback]

Well.. there are probably other videos on the subject, but this could be an introduction:

 

[BrianBay9]

So many questions!

How do you handle height during that period? Do you eventually chop the main trunk around your desired height to stimulate side branches and start the shaping process?

If I aimed for the following shape, does that mean I wouldn't start working on side branches (even the lowest one) until the trunk widening phase is finished?

Thank you for your time!

1. You just let it grow tall. Depending on now big you want that trunk it could be several feet tall.
2. Then you cut it shorter than your desired final height and let a bud or branch become the new leader and grow it out again. You want the base thickness AND taper going up the trunk, so the next grow out will last until it is a bit less thick than the trunk below. Then do it again.
3. You can start working on low side branches while you're growing your trunk out. You might have to wait until the first major trunk chop to get low buds where you want them.

 

[Paradox]

Step 1 is learn how to keep it alive and healthy.

Dead trees can't be made into bonsai

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

In terms of development of young trees, getting the trunk "big" refers to the diameter of the trunk. Not the height. The larger the diameter of the trunk, relative to the height of the finished tree, the older illusion of age is created.

Often with young slender trees, they have to be allowed to grow much taller than planned finished height to get the diameter needed.

For example: if you want a 3 foot tall tree, you might let it grow up to 12 feet tall to get a 3 inch diameter trunk. Then hard prune, ( chop) the tree to maybe 12 inches tall. Let the next segment ( or major branches) grow out maybe 6-8 feet to get 1 inch diameter branches, then cut to about 2 foot tall. Then the final foot is more frequent cycles of growth and cut back to make the fine twigs.

Key is, many repeated cycles of growing out and cutting back.