Progressive maple #2- Dave Murphy

[Dav4]

This is a Japanese maple dwarf cultivar 'Murasaki kiyohime' I purchased as a 2 yr old graft from Forest Farm probably a decade ago. It spent the first 4 years in my possession growng in a 1 gal nursery pot. When we relocated to GA, it was planted out in the thin, rocky soil of my hilly back yard, where it decided to grow like a big boy. Here it is in 2013 after 4 years in the yard. From a 1 gal, it was now 5' across.

 

[Dav4]

It caught my eye as a possible bonsai candidate because it had developed a thick trunk with ample branching below that broad spreading canopy. The roots were not great and I debated ground layering in place. However, the slope of the land made it almost impossible to access the back of the root base, so I opted to collect it whole, which I did last week during a rain storm. The canopy, now 6' across, had been hacked back with a dull pair of hedge clippers so I could get my shovel close to the trunk.

 

[Dav4]

First pruning for shape took place yesterday. I'm not sure what to expect from this one but hope it continues to be as vigorous in an Anderson flat as it was in my yard. If it behaves appropriately, I might even attempt a ground layer this summer....go big or go home.

 

[JudyB]

Man, you must have had a stack of wood big enough for a campfire after pruning that one! Fun, fun, fun!

 

[Dav4]

Man, you must have had a stack of wood big enough for a campfire after pruning that one! Fun, fun, fun!

Yep, the carnage is strewn across the one flat area of my yard and I've been tripping over it since. I've got to find time to clean up but so much to do...maybe next fall.

 

[discusmike]

That graft isnt to bad if you decide to keep it that way.

 

[Dav4]

That graft isnt to bad if you decide to keep it that way.

I agree. Even with the tree in front of me, I'm unsure of where the graft actually is. You can see the change in bark color/texture just below where the branching begins and you'd think that's got to be it, but I'm not so sure. There's absolutely no bulge or abrupt change in diameter that gives it away.

 

[barrosinc]

I thought it was where the roots start. A V shape that differs the brown roots to the white trunk... maybe not?

 

[Dav4]

I thought it was where the roots start. A V shape that differs the brown roots to the white trunk... maybe not?

Honestly not sure. That portion of the trunk was mostly buried so that might account for the difference in bark.

 

[Adair M]

Seeing posts like this reminds me of why I'm enjoying shohin so much!

Good job, Dave!

 

[Dav4]

Seeing posts like this reminds me of why I'm enjoying shohin so much!

Good job, Dave!

Thanks Adair. I don't know exactly how big this one will be, but would guess it'll be a solid chuhin, I'm thinking.

 

[0soyoung]

I'm looking forward to seeing where you take it from here, Dave.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Seeing posts like this reminds me of why I'm enjoying shohin so much!

Good job, Dave!

That and repotting 10 trees and still having half the bag of akadama left

 

[fraser67]

Looks like at least a six pack for that one...yikes! A ground layer looks like it would still give you a tremendous base...purdy

 

[Dav4]

This one got cut back a bit more 2 weeks ago, and I noticed afterwards that it was really pushing a lot of sap out of the wounds. Sooooo....it got it's ground layer separated and re-potted today...less because it was pushing sap and more because I had the time. In a nutshell, the tree was removed from the Anderson flat, had the heavy roots cut back, then sawed back, then had the base flattened with hand tools (took FOREVER), then was screwed to a board, had some minimal ebihariesque root work done, then was replanted in the Anderson flat...took all morning.

 

[Dav4]

I added sphagnum moss to the soil surface to keep things moist. I forgot to post a picture...use your imagination

 

[Dav4]

I should have mentioned that I started a ground layer on this one last year...so there you go.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Great new beginning! I got a Kyohime too, but I'm probably going to have to wait another 10-15 years before it gets large enough.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Per second picture in post #2, there's a lot of vertical growth. I don't think I've seen that before on this cultivar. Perhaps it's a bit tilted? Still, there's a lot of upward growth.

 

[JoeR]

That is a lot of progress in a short time.


Awesome one, I LOVE japanese maples!