Trident Maple in development

Really love this one.

Bobby. I agree with you on the uro.

However, I think the same standards should hold for them as for branching.
Smaller on top.

The one on the top left. If allowed to close over where you still have some wood there, would be more in proportion with the really nice one on the bottom right.

I think this simple difference will make a huge difference.

Awesome base, just awesome!

Sorce
 
markyscott said:
Here's a link to one of my trident threads. I wired it out twice more after the last update. I'll update it soon.

http://www.bonsainut.com/index.php?threads/an-unusual-trident.16075/page-3

I work development on pretty much all broadleaf trees the same.

  1. Let grow
  2. Wire and select branches while shoots are green
  3. Remove old leaves on new shoots, but leave the new leaves and growing tips on branches you want to thicken
    • Occasionally, I go further and partially defoliate when I want to strengthen or weaken an area on an otherwise healthy tree. But I never completely defoliate a tree in development.
  4. Remove wire as it begins to cut in
  5. Repeat 1-5 as many times as you can over the summer
  6. In fall, remove any remaining wire and cut back
  7. In early spring, repot
Scott
Click to expand...

Thanks Scott, i have come across your thread before actually, im finding Tridents are a really good species to work with.
I do plan on getting some more movement into the branches, as you know some can be a little course this time of year, so i put movement into the ones i could and slight movement into the courser ones, lost one or two in the process! ill try and get some wire on the green shoots as you say, next season now. i dont think these trees need crazy movement in the branches though, have a look at Walter palls tree on the first page, ive seen this trees progression and it looks like most if not all was done by clip n grow and guy wiring. i like to put crazy movement in trees that have twisty angular trunks, this tree has a pretty solid trunk without bends and i think the branch movement can be subtle...
 
sorce said:
Really love this one.

Bobby. I agree with you on the uro.

However, I think the same standards should hold for them as for branching.
Smaller on top.

The one on the top left. If allowed to close over where you still have some wood there, would be more in proportion with the really nice one on the bottom right.

I think this simple difference will make a huge difference.

Awesome base, just awesome!

Sorce
Click to expand...
i didnt realise this but it makes sense to have bigger Uro in the lower part of the tree and can see why it would be more visually pleasing to the eye. that top left Uro, i think i can get the callus rolling in some more, im going to try to activate it in the growing season again. there is some scope for extending the bottom right Uro, will assess over time. ive learned to do dead wood bits in stages now and wait for the cracks to appear before further adding to them and then going with the grain.:)
 
BobbyLane said:
there is some scope for extending the bottom right Uro,
Click to expand...

I thought that, but it looks so good now!

I think that top will heal enough, last resort would be bigger bottom!

Yup yup.
You know what I mean!

Sorce
 
so this is the tree today, its been a love hate relationship, im starting to love it again. after catering to its needs, i know it loves a drink so it was put in a deeper pot by Erin. it doesnt like being in sun all the time either but if its watered abundantly it responds better, this mid summer flush has produced better leaves without browning tips...

i had some branch die back earlier so im still wanting a larger crown and from this angle i want to grow out the left side
IMG_5225 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

this is the original front but im liking the first angle now, its in a round pot because it has no front!
IMG_5226 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
IMG_5227 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
IMG_5228 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
IMG_5229 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

ive given up trying to wire this tree, ive lost branches from trying, i like to do clip and grow on it now, it will take longer but thats cool. im using clip and grow on a lot of my trees now. tight nodes, angular movement, sharp directional changes is what i want.
 
my nellie said:
Powerful, beautiful tree!
Will look far more better when you grow the canopy broader... I think...
Something like this photo
Click to expand...

Thanks Nellie!
Here's a rotation of the tree, i managed to get some wire on, introduced some movement into younger off shoots, from 1:30 is where i see the angle and width of the canopy
 
update
this is my preferred front now, buts its a good tree from other views...this season was all about growing out that first left branch and ive recently cut back really hard on some branches in part of the crown AGAIN, so just needs to fill back in
2018-07-20_01-48-44 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

from this view, the width of the canopy is just about right, although the first left branch could be shortened a little
 
Trident that just needs time.....during the summer i cut back very hard in the crown, to allow those two lower branches on the left to catch up and develop a bit......i thinned out the crown again earlier.
Next season it needs a free run, but everything is in place now and the vigour somewhat balanced
IMG_7167 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
IMG_7166 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

see the future crown more like this
IMG_7167 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
I just went through this thread for the first time - nice tree!

I have been thinking a lot about trunk development lately, and this is a very interesting design to me, with a lot of potential! Can I ask what your vision is for this tree?

The inspiration tree by Walter Pall that you posted in 2015 had something that really caught my eye, namely two distinct but well integrated 'clouds': one in the front/left, and one in the back/right.

I'm assuming the pics that you just posted today are taken of the 'front' of the tree? If you don't mind me asking, have you thought about rotating your tree counter-clockwise somewhere in between 45 and 90 degrees? At the moment, your tree looks to have a 'lower' (left) and an 'upper' (right) section like the Walter Pall inspiration tree, but on your tree these are very left-to-right, and not very front-to-back.

Regardless of how closely or not you wish to follow the inspiration tree, i think that generally speaking (just my person taste though) a slight rotation will give you some interesting front-to-back depth.

It looks like your lower section has at least two interesting candidates to grow out that lower section, which will add a little height and maybe some taper to that lower section? This was already your plan i think?

In the top left corner of the picture of your tree, I drew an 'overhead view', because i wasn't confident that I was going to be able to express in words what i have in mind
 

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derek7745 said:
I just went through this thread for the first time - nice tree!

I have been thinking a lot about trunk development lately, and this is a very interesting design to me, with a lot of potential! Can I ask what your vision is for this tree?

The inspiration tree by Walter Pall that you posted in 2015 had something that really caught my eye, namely two distinct but well integrated 'clouds': one in the front/left, and one in the back/right.

I'm assuming the pics that you just posted today are taken of the 'front' of the tree? If you don't mind me asking, have you thought about rotating your tree counter-clockwise somewhere in between 45 and 90 degrees? At the moment, your tree looks to have a 'lower' (left) and an 'upper' (right) section like the Walter Pall inspiration tree, but on your tree these are very left-to-right, and not very front-to-back.

Regardless of how closely or not you wish to follow the inspiration tree, i think that generally speaking (just my person taste though) a slight rotation will give you some interesting front-to-back depth.

It looks like your lower section has at least two interesting candidates to grow out that lower section, which will add a little height and maybe some taper to that lower section? This was already your plan i think?

In the top left corner of the picture of your tree, I drew an 'overhead view', because i wasn't confident that I was going to be able to express in words what i have in mind
Click to expand...

Hi Derek, i appreciate you taking your time. once the tree fills out, it will be good from more than one angle. will assess it again once i reach the desired goal of a full canopy similar to the virtual. thats my intended vision. its that simple;)
 
Hello folks, well this thread has now pretty much come to the end of the journey, as i sold this tree last week to a fellow enthusiast, always been a love hate affair with tridents for me.

last image
IMG_7166 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

and today i also move on another, that had been in the ground for 2+ years

this is how it looked two years ago after it was chopped-2016
2016-10-24_05-17-15 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

it was then transferred to a growing bed
this is the tree two years on jan 2018

callus has began to roll in quite well
2018-01-26_08-50-11 by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

and these images are from today after it was dug up and packed on to its new owner, its going to make a very good broom eventually, imo
packaging a trident by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

nice, flat nebari
packaging a trident by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
packaging a trident by Bobby Lane, on Flickr

i reckon, another two years and that scar is almost healed over....
packaging it up earlier, i was thinking maybe i should of kept it:)

oh well, i did take a massive cutting and shoved it in the vacated bed
packaging a trident by Bobby Lane, on Flickr
 
That's a trident I'd like to have in my yard! Is the new owner a bnut member? Would like to see this one in a few more years.
 
coh said:
That's a trident I'd like to have in my yard! Is the new owner a bnut member? Would like to see this one in a few more years.
Click to expand...

Hi Coh, im afraid not, both new owners are members on weetrees, a UK forum i visit. i could possibly show some updated images after some time. before n afters are always nice
 
Hot dang, @BobbyLane !!! I thought that was one of your best!!!;):D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

For me, they seem to need just that little bit of extra-protection in winter. In a spot that I have yet to figure out how to supply, climate-wise.
Had an "ok" import 6-7 years ago, kept in my neighbor's root-cellar over winter, did well. Moved it following winter to lay dormant with my other trees...…..never woke up come spring.:(:(
Still stings a bit. Grew so well, pruners delight! Unlike the Japanese Maples I tend to favor now....favored because they survive my "overwintering" rollercoaster.:rolleyes:

Nice you might still be able to see the tree from time to time. And have supplied a great start for the new caretakers, maybe even spark them to a greater passion or appreciation for this thing of ours's….o_O:p:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Cheers and happy holidays, ya big lug!!!:D:D:D:D
 
LanceMac10 said:
Hot dang, @BobbyLane !!! I thought that was one of your best!!!;):D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

For me, they seem to need just that little bit of extra-protection in winter. In a spot that I have yet to figure out how to supply, climate-wise.
Had an "ok" import 6-7 years ago, kept in my neighbor's root-cellar over winter, did well. Moved it following winter to lay dormant with my other trees...…..never woke up come spring.:(:(
Still stings a bit. Grew so well, pruners delight! Unlike the Japanese Maples I tend to favor now....favored because they survive my "overwintering" rollercoaster.:rolleyes:

Nice you might still be able to see the tree from time to time. And have supplied a great start for the new caretakers, maybe even spark them to a greater passion or appreciation for this thing of ours's….o_O:p:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Cheers and happy holidays, ya big lug!!!:D:D:D:D
Click to expand...

hello mate, i find they'll grow extremely fast in the ground, but in my climate also, they do tend to get some die back of branches from time to time.
ive never felt the need to protect the one in a pot over winter, as it was always kept on my balcony, which has a roof. i know a lot of folk over here tend to bring them in over winter too.

Happy holidays to you too buddy:cool:
 
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