Since I've been keeping a decent amount of documentation and updates on my JBP and JRP Progression Post in my field growing journey I figure I'd start a thread of some of my maples as well. With the intension of updating once or twice a year as the trees progress. I have two field maples, both of which I have grown from seed. I'll just refer to them as tree 1 and tree 2. Both trees were germinated in raised beds in 2016, and the following year were placed in the ground near the growing raised beds. In 2019 they were transplanted again up into their current location and have been growing in the ground every since. I "think" I placed a tile or barrier under each tree. Based on their root flares at this point I'm pretty confident of this. Unfortunately I didn't take a nice direct photo of these 2 trees for a couple years, but you can see them in the background of pictures of my pines along the way. I'll include these photos anyways since it's interesting to see their relative size each year. In the last 2 years I've begun the first major trunk chops so I believe I'll be taking photos of them more regularly now. Yay more documentation! Anyways here they are:
2017 Both Trees growing in the ground:
2019 Transplanted into the field where they now grow, on top of a tile. (not the field maple pictured here but just to give an idea of the technique used)
2021 You can see the maples in the top left of the photo (sorry the focus was on one of my pines, but you can at least see them in the background)
2022 Tree 1:
During Summer
Tree 1 Autumn, just before my trunk chop
Tree 1, cleaned up beside the branch which I chose for my future trunk line
Tree 1, clean cut made horizontally with saws-all/reciprocating saw
Tree 1, I cut just above the branch to make sure it could die back a little bit and re-establish is sap flow.
Tree 1, sealed the cut.
2023: Not pictured, but this escape branch just increased in girth allowed to grow freely
2024 Tree 1, new sap flow was visible so I carved with a dremel and attachment to angle the cut to have a more natural angle flow into my new trunk line direction. Carved with a small convex hump so it's not just a large flat spot.
Tree 1, sealed up again
2025 Tree 1, callus that formed over the year. I've rewounded the callus, added an approached graft from a nearby whip coming out of a root. Hopefully it will take and allow me to heal the wound a bit quicker. After this year's growth I'm considering making my next trunk chop and leaving the small branch you see here as the next branch for trunk direction change and tapering growth.
2025 Tree 2, Switching over to Tree 2 I feel the trunk had reached the size I'm hoping for. So I made another large trump chop similar to the one I made on Tree 1 leaving again the branch I intend to be the next trunk line.
I hope these will be enjoyed. I will update as there is something to report.
2017 Both Trees growing in the ground:
2019 Transplanted into the field where they now grow, on top of a tile. (not the field maple pictured here but just to give an idea of the technique used)
2021 You can see the maples in the top left of the photo (sorry the focus was on one of my pines, but you can at least see them in the background)
2022 Tree 1:
During Summer
Tree 1 Autumn, just before my trunk chop
Tree 1, cleaned up beside the branch which I chose for my future trunk line
Tree 1, clean cut made horizontally with saws-all/reciprocating saw
Tree 1, I cut just above the branch to make sure it could die back a little bit and re-establish is sap flow.
Tree 1, sealed the cut.
2023: Not pictured, but this escape branch just increased in girth allowed to grow freely
2024 Tree 1, new sap flow was visible so I carved with a dremel and attachment to angle the cut to have a more natural angle flow into my new trunk line direction. Carved with a small convex hump so it's not just a large flat spot.
Tree 1, sealed up again
2025 Tree 1, callus that formed over the year. I've rewounded the callus, added an approached graft from a nearby whip coming out of a root. Hopefully it will take and allow me to heal the wound a bit quicker. After this year's growth I'm considering making my next trunk chop and leaving the small branch you see here as the next branch for trunk direction change and tapering growth.
2025 Tree 2, Switching over to Tree 2 I feel the trunk had reached the size I'm hoping for. So I made another large trump chop similar to the one I made on Tree 1 leaving again the branch I intend to be the next trunk line.
I hope these will be enjoyed. I will update as there is something to report.
