Need some good vision on Japanese maples future.

[Jcmmaple]

This is an airlayer I removed this year, it did great all year. The mother tree is a good tree, it buds everywhere. Now that the leaves are gone I’m wondering where it going, just thinking ahead. The lines are what I’m thinking for now, but it may change. I have also thought about just cutting it all back because there are so many buds to choose from to regrow. I would love to hear from others on what they would do, thanks.

 

[Shibui]

Best trunk seems to be around picture 2 and 3 side but that gives the fattest trunk coming forward. Possibly tilt the whole tree back a few degrees or maybe use an new shoot to take it backward a little after the chops.
Chop lines are quite low but should build a better trunk structure in long term. I'd probably remove the far right branch completely otherwise too many similar trunks and less direction.

Do you have any vision of tree size from this layer?

 

[Jcmmaple]

I agree with the far right branch, It doesn’t really do anything for the flow. I want to keep it pretty small, right now there are to many long lines.

 

[DrTolhur]

The angle of the trunk as shown in the pictures is almost a raft style but not quite, so it's not real well defined to me. As such, I'd probably chop the two skinnies/lowest branches altogether and consider changing the planting angle to bring the trunk up a little. Not making it full upright or anything, but enough to give it some distinction from the soil line. I think the chops on the larger trunks make sense.

 

[Jcmmaple]

So I’m no artist but here’s a quick sketch of a possible design, playing with the idea of keeping what I have but shorten the length of growth.

 

[MarkMaple]

The angle of the trunk as shown in the pictures is almost a raft style but not quite, so it's not real well defined to me. As such, I'd probably chop the two skinnies/lowest branches altogether and consider changing the planting angle to bring the trunk up a little. Not making it full upright or anything, but enough to give it some distinction from the soil line. I think the chops on the larger trunks make sense.

Agreed