New project-Ground grown Japanese Maple

[jquast]

Started this off on a tile and then planted it in the ground for about five years. Out of the ground and into an Anderson Flat to just grow this year.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Really nice start!

Just one thought... You might want to choose to take the three branch junctions down to no more than two at each junction....

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[jquast]

The plan is to work the right branch down to the first or second node next year and then build the secondary branches from there.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Your choice. You didn’t mention the intended size of your final Bonsai

Each extra branch will bulk out the node and below. Keeping extra wheel spoke type branches is how inverse taper occurs... which it seems you are beginning to run afoul of from the photos.

Pruning to two will start the tapering process.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[jquast]

Your choice. You didn’t mention the intended size of your final Bonsai

Each extra branch will bulk out the node and below. Keeping extra wheel spoke type branches is how inverse taper occurs... which it seems you are beginning to run afoul of from the photos.

Pruning to two will start the tapering process.

Cheers
DSD s

I’ll make it a bit easier for you to understand.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Thanks for that graphic.

The left fork branch is what I was commenting about.... however perhaps it’s just the photo angle giving a false impression.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Alain BERTRAND]

I'd would layer it a the line because the inverse taper won't disappear soon.

 

[MrWunderful]

I would lop that whole left side off, unless you let the base spread out a bit, that inverse taper is there to stay. It looks like a lobster claw to me.

if you cut it off and rotate it 90 deg. Clockwise to hide the scar, you will have great taper after a few years.

 

[jquast]

I'd would layer it a the line because the inverse taper won't disappear soon.

View attachment 352704

The appearance of inverse taper is due to the 2-D photo. There is actually no inverse taper at the base.

 

[Alain BERTRAND]

Great because the flare above the roots is really nice. May I suggest to tilt the tree to the right to increase the angular dissymetry of the two trunks?

 

[jquast]

Great because the flare above the roots is really nice.

Benefits of starting it off on a tile. Will change the planting angle as I develop it in the future, this is just a grow out pot to get some good roots back on it again.