We recently purchased a home with a huge Japanese maple stump in the back yard. It has shot a ton of shoots out and I’m curious as to if I can propagate from any of these shoots and maybe what could be done with the stump. I’m not sure why the tree was cut to begin with but we do have another maple in the yard that looks like it has Japanese beetle damage. What would you do with this?
Giant Japanese maple stump. What to do?
- Thread starter Clmbngj
- Start date
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
You can try cuttings from Japanese maple. The regrowth shoots would be ideal material to try. Some growers seem to have great success with JM cuttings but, even though I grow lots of other species from cuttings, I've never had success with JM.
Stumps give a thick trunk to start bonsai. Lots of beginner bonsai growers would barter their first born to get a stump like that one. Japanese maple transplant quite easily, even with the roots reduced to short stumps, but getting a good tree shape from a thick stump can be challenging. Usually involves some fancy wood carving to make the thick stump transition neatly into the new branches and new trunk. The transition from stump to bonsai is longer than most estimate and not many actually make great bonsai.
Don't underestimate the size and weight of the stump if you decide to transplant. The roots are big and thick and maple wood is hard so you will need a good saw or ax to cut through each and every root before it will come out. You'll need to dig a good big hole in order to get down and under the trunk, even if the plan is to only save short roots still need a large hole.
I wonder if previous owners chopped this one because it was just too close to the house? Too much shade? Roots interfering with foundations?
Stumps give a thick trunk to start bonsai. Lots of beginner bonsai growers would barter their first born to get a stump like that one. Japanese maple transplant quite easily, even with the roots reduced to short stumps, but getting a good tree shape from a thick stump can be challenging. Usually involves some fancy wood carving to make the thick stump transition neatly into the new branches and new trunk. The transition from stump to bonsai is longer than most estimate and not many actually make great bonsai.
Don't underestimate the size and weight of the stump if you decide to transplant. The roots are big and thick and maple wood is hard so you will need a good saw or ax to cut through each and every root before it will come out. You'll need to dig a good big hole in order to get down and under the trunk, even if the plan is to only save short roots still need a large hole.
I wonder if previous owners chopped this one because it was just too close to the house? Too much shade? Roots interfering with foundations?
leatherback
The Treedeemer
IF you decide to work the stump, I would do this while still in the ground. You now reduce all runners to the keepers. You carve-out the wood that needs to go to get a good trunkline. Wire the keeperbranches loosely in place and let her run for 2 or so years. This will fatten the leader MUCH more than you woudl get after transitioning in a pot. It will also help the tree growing over the carved areas (Cutpaste!?).
To not see this as wasted time, In this period you can take a circle of bricks around the trunk, maybe a foot out, filled with good compost: half-cut the roots, cover with good compost. Water the compost regularly and get some roots near the trunk, aiding transition recovery in spring 2025...
To not see this as wasted time, In this period you can take a circle of bricks around the trunk, maybe a foot out, filled with good compost: half-cut the roots, cover with good compost. Water the compost regularly and get some roots near the trunk, aiding transition recovery in spring 2025...
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
"You now reduce all runners to the keepers"
Underrated comment there
Underrated comment there
leatherback
The Treedeemer
I find semi-softwood, in vermicuite and a sealed ziplock bag do the trick with up to 100% rooting, and most of the time 50% +. In semi shade (an hour or so of morning sunlights, and a few lucky rays at the end of the day). 4-8 weeks.
Clicio
Masterpiece
Perhaps I am lucky, but I can get all sorts of maples to take from cuttings pretty easily here. Our Springs and Summers are very wet, and it seems they do the trick.
PonderingSage:
Shohin
JM cuttings OK to take now?
Clicio
Masterpiece
I have no idea what's the climate in Idaho, I guess it's cold. I like to take them either early fall - which is long and warm here - or early spring, way before summer heat.
PonderingSage:
Shohin
Thanks. Fall comes quick here at times. I’ll give it a go
KikurageOtomo
Shohin
The stump itself seems like it would be more trouble than its worth to transition. On the inverse it presents a nice opportunity to choose several shoots to shape, thicken and air layer when the time comes.
PonderingSage:
Shohin
Yeah, that would be awesome!
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
It's more suited to a naturalistic style, not a 'bonsai'
Thinking now he should let all runners go with a large spreading crown in mind.
Attachments
KikurageOtomo
Shohin
My point was less about its aptitude as a traditional bonsai and more-so about the logistics of successfully transferring the stump into a container in tandem with the years it will take to get it to resemble anything other than a stump with a broom up top.
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
Sounds like you know what you like and you have a plan, good luck.
