Nice curves, frankenfoot.

[MrWunderful]

Great progression of root development. Hopefully you remove some of those crossing roots!

 

[Nybonsai12]

doing some work today while temps are warm and things are starting to wake up. This one got moved to a pot. I thread grafted a branch last year above the one I placed today. The nebari is decent and the root pad was combed out. now just to protect it from freezes and wait for some action.

 

[penumbra]

IMO, the thread graft was not needed (where it was done) and I would not have done it. However, your vision may be quite different than the obvious one so have at it.

 

[Nybonsai12]

IMO, the thread graft was not needed (where it was done) and I would not have done it. However, your vision may be quite different than the obvious one so have at it.

To my eye looking at this tree in person, I’ve been drawn to a big empty spot on the trunk where the movement is lacking and branching was lacking more. Between the two red lines in the pic below was no branching. I placed the one this year and the one last year in hopes of filling in that area that always bothered me. I’m far from a design expert but This was my thought process.

 

[BobbyLane]

To my eye looking at this tree in person, I’ve been drawn to a big empty spot on the trunk where the movement is lacking and branching was lacking more. Between the two red lines in the pic below was no branching. I placed the one this year and the one last year in hopes of filling in that area that always bothered me. I’m far from a design expert but This was my thought process.

Nice I like this tree, I see Oaks that look just like this. Im also thinking the thread isnt needed, if It was mine I would continue to grow up the left subtrunk and begin to train branches into the negative space you mentioned and have some branches going over the main trunk as per virt, hope you dont mind me taking the liberty.
Your plan should still work nicely though

 

[Nybonsai12]

Ah I see what you are saying. My plan was not to develop the left subtrunk upward but more to keep it out to the side, somewhat similar to the first branch on Mach5‘s Kashima here
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/kashima-maple.22311/page-4

 

[BobbyLane]

Ah I see what you are saying. My plan was not to develop the left subtrunk upward but more to keep it out to the side, somewhat similar to the first branch on Mach5‘s Kashima here
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/kashima-maple.22311/page-4

Ah I see, thats another option yes. Nice to have a few options to decide/choose from.

 

[TN_Jim]

while there is movement up top, the taper seems lacking up there. because of, I believe this would be my approach:

 

[Nybonsai12]

Some fall color. Leaves always end up looking like trash end of the season. If it's not fungal, it's sun/heat stress. Always a hard time for me to keep leaves in good shape on J. Maple.

Thread graft is solid and will likely be cut soon.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Naked and frozen solid this cold morning. I will cut the thread graft in spring, likely wire some branches and decide whether or not to repot. I think it should be able to go another season in this soil.

 

[Nybonsai12]

A lil work on this one, wired a few branches, removed the thread graft and pruned back. Will get a repot in the very near future but will stay in this pot.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Love when they leaf out but must stay vigilant as bugs are after the new growth already!

 

[Nybonsai12]

The rain the past few weeks really helped this one explode.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Finally some fall color. I have trees that are naked already. This one just taking its time.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Spring repot and ready for another year.