MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Several years ago I bought this Japanese maple from the personal collection of Chase Rosade. About 30 years ago, Chase created the initial design at a workshop with a known Japanese master who's name I can't remember. At the time the tree was about 5 years old making it 35 years old now. Chase could not confirm the specific cultivar but it does not look to be a standard green mountain maple.
In any case, as I was wiring the top part of the trunk one spring, I accidentally cracked the entire apex. I am no stranger to cracks of any kind in maples, so I did not think much of it since I thought for sure it would heal and all would be fine as has usually been my experience. It didn't! The whole top after leafing out that spring, became very weak and died. I was disheartened by this and the tree fell into neglect. I continued to do some occasional pruning and fertilized it but not much else it got from me.
Below is a photo of the maple as it looked before I decided to give it a new lease in life. The plastic pot is from a failed graft experiment. It was time to rethink this tree!
Many branches were removed in the process. All cuts were then covered with cut paste.
After aggressive pruning, a bit of wiring and a repotting, here is the maple as it looks now. Not much to look at but I do believe that it is now set for a brighter future.
Detail of the interesting nebari which sits high above the soil line. The bark is also showing an aged appearance.
I made a vertical groove in the trunk mid way up in order to swell the area and thicken the trunk right at that spot.
Perhaps in another 5 to 7 years this is a virtual of how the tree could look like.
In any case, as I was wiring the top part of the trunk one spring, I accidentally cracked the entire apex. I am no stranger to cracks of any kind in maples, so I did not think much of it since I thought for sure it would heal and all would be fine as has usually been my experience. It didn't! The whole top after leafing out that spring, became very weak and died. I was disheartened by this and the tree fell into neglect. I continued to do some occasional pruning and fertilized it but not much else it got from me.
Below is a photo of the maple as it looked before I decided to give it a new lease in life. The plastic pot is from a failed graft experiment. It was time to rethink this tree!
Many branches were removed in the process. All cuts were then covered with cut paste.
After aggressive pruning, a bit of wiring and a repotting, here is the maple as it looks now. Not much to look at but I do believe that it is now set for a brighter future.
Detail of the interesting nebari which sits high above the soil line. The bark is also showing an aged appearance.
I made a vertical groove in the trunk mid way up in order to swell the area and thicken the trunk right at that spot.
Perhaps in another 5 to 7 years this is a virtual of how the tree could look like.
