Nursery Stock Bloodgood initial cut/styling suggestions

Kizerk

Yamadori
Messages
58
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Location
Syracuse NY
USDA Zone
5b
Hi,
As repotting season come upon us I am looking for suggestions about the direction to take my big bloodgood maple with its initial big cut back and styling.

Attached are pictures of the tree as it currently stands with my thoughts of where to cut.

Any suggestions or input on style and on the timing of this big cut would be greatly appreciated.7DA1DBE4-00E0-4102-BDAB-6F6957B85A95.jpegDA3DF33D-D777-4824-9C69-196EEF2A1703.jpegCB2B7717-585B-4D7E-A3C8-722D8993042D.jpegFAB35E8B-2B5A-4937-B1E4-D7643E7160A5.jpegBC4B803B-5650-4DD7-87AA-1EF46A2817CD.jpeg5BCDCEBC-2553-4706-9828-A6567370A307.jpeg
 

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I can see that the trunk you propose to keep has some nice gentle bends but side views show that it moves quiet strongly away from the side with the scar. Bonsai look far better when the apex comes slightly forward so using tat as the main trunk really limits the front to the side without scar.
It also looks like that trunk (and probably the others too) has some quite long internodes which may make getting enough branches to fill the design difficult. The options then become hard cut back and regrow the whole to or graft branches into desirable places.
Long internodes are a common feature of commercial maples as they are grown as quick as possible. In my experience Bloodgood seems to be especially prone to long internodes and less ramification so I've stopped trying to grow bonsai with that cultivar.

I know dead wood, shari and jin are frowned on in deciduous trees but I quite like the look of that scar. If I could find a way to bring a new apex forward I'd try to show that as a feature but if the trunk won't play ball just use the other side or choose another branch as the new trunk line.

Along with removing the extra trunks I think you need to reduce the height of the remaining trunk and branches. Cutting hard seems like a step back but too tall and your bonsai will appear skinny. Harder pruning will also start the ramification process. It is common for commercially grown JM to be chopped way back to just a trunk and branch stubs to get good regrowth suitable for good bonsai.
 
@Shibui thabk you for the reply.

To you point about a hard cutback to reduce the height I whole heartedly agree and the plan is to take the height back to maybe double the scars length.
As for the trunk selection the only other really viable candidate would be the center most of the three big trunks. The issue with that one was the movement lost as it is much straighter even though to does come somewhat forward.
Thank you again for taking your time to answer.
 
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