Legacy Trident

[Johnnyd]

I was fortunate enough to aquire this trident maple from a fellow club member a few years ago. It originally belonged to one of our club's founding members who was no longer able to care for it. It is at least 35 years old and has an aged looking bark and interesting nebari. The apex was a bit overgrown, however, the low movement in the trunk caught my eye.
My plan was to layer the top for a shohin size tree. Then the lower tree would need some thread grafts for a medium size tree.


The top layer and roots were tied with twine to a rock and planted in the ground.


I saw some potential for a semi cascade with this one. I didn't take any pictures of it before I put it in the garden bed.

Here is the latest picture of the lower tree after the grafts were in place.

 

[leatherback]

bold move, which seems to be paying off for you!

 

[Albas]

Really cool, what season was the air-layer made?

 

[Johnnyd]

Really cool, what season was the air-layer made?

I put the layer on in mid summer, July 2021, and removed it in August.

 

[pandacular]

I love seeing a great air-layer. There's something really special about getting two good trees out of one tree with flaws..

I must be doing something wrong with my airlayers, because none of them seem to be pushing near that many roots!

 

[Albas]

I find very satisfying as well, lol.
Maybe it's healing over, when the bark heals over, the rooting is weaker.