Advice on removing a large J Maple sacrificial branch

[Lars Grimm]

Hi All,

I have a large field grown japanese maple that I acquired earlier this Spring from the Growing Grounds. It is recovering nicely from collection in a wooden box. It has great taper but that is the result of numerous sacrificial branches. There is one particularly large branch which I am worried about how to properly remove. I am planning on using the Ebihara technique described by Jonas here on Bonsai Tonight in order to speed healing. The branch itself swells though near the collar where it joins the trunk from about an inch at the orange line to an inch and a half at the yellow line.

Would you more experienced maple growers make your cut at the yellow line in order to get a totally flat scar or allow for a small bulge in order to have a smaller scar with a higher chance of complete healing? Of course there is a good chance this might be on the back side of the tree.

Thanks,
Lars

 

[LanceMac10]

Did you notice in the article that the branches are being notched annually? And it looks like the cut is made to create a semi-smooth trunk line.

Maybe not so deep as the yellow line, but realize, that's gonna' be a rather large wound.

 

[M. Frary]

If you're going to take it off you might as well cut at the yellow. It will leave a large wound but that bulge might look as bad or worse.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Something that size, I'd be tempted to try removing it a little at a time. Somewhere I have a less-extreme example, but check out Scott's thread:
Ebihara maples

 

[sorce]

I wouldn't cut it yet at all....

Lessin that sho is the back.

That's a Damn straight line you're gonna leave.

Like IT'S been grown with it's back against a wall.

Your back, however, is not against the wall, so I would consider other options.

Like cutting everything else off.

Sorce

 

[Lars Grimm]

Something that size, I'd be tempted to try removing it a little at a time. Somewhere I have a less-extreme example, but check out Scott's thread:
Ebihara maples

Yeah, I was leaning towards doing a progressive cut over several years.

 

[Lars Grimm]

I wouldn't cut it yet at all....

Lessin that sho is the back.

That's a Damn straight line you're gonna leave.

Like IT'S been grown with it's back against a wall.

Your back, however, is not against the wall, so I would consider other options.

Like cutting everything else off.

Sorce

I'm not sure I follow. Are you suggesting making a trunk chop there?

 

[sorce]

I'm not sure I follow. Are you suggesting making a trunk chop there?

Maybe.



I don't see much above....but what's there looks eh anyway.

The Bold and the Beautiful have gone together for some time now.

I only fear....
That no matter what..
If you make that cut...

A viewer is ALWAYS going to see that line. Your first exposed third...you can't hide it.

And then everything above seems to be moving awayfrom it....which seems will bring it more attention.


I don't do much but kill maples...

But I seen it done.

And then you can join Smokes sumo thread!
Bonus!

Sorce

 

[Lars Grimm]

Maybe.

I don't see much above....but what's there looks eh anyway.

Here is a photo from early spring just as leaf out. There is a great trunk with taper in there so a major chop is out.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Nice trunk. If it was mine, I would thread-graft all new branches, and not use any of the current ones in the final design.

 

[chansen]

If the cut isn't concave, you're going to get a bulge even if you cut at the yellow line. The scar tissue adds to what's there. I'd cut at the yellow line, but given the size of it do a progressive notch cut to speed healing. You'll also need to remove the larger branches at the top of the tree.

I'm more concerned with the black blotches on the base of the trunk. Pseudomonas maybe? I'm not a disease expert, but black bark on an acer p. is never good.

 

[Lars Grimm]

Nice trunk. If it was mine, I would thread-graft all new branches, and not use any of the current ones in the final design.

That is 100% my plan. I just have a lot of work to do with all these sacrificial branches. I am actually looking forward to it as a really great project. I noticed in the Ebihara post from @markyscott that many of the thread grafts actually appear to go through the sacrificial branch callus. That seems a very clever way of hiding a scar.

 

[Lars Grimm]

I'm more concerned with the black blotches on the base of the trunk. Pseudomonas maybe? I'm not a disease expert, but black bark on an acer p. is never good.

Hmm, I'll take another look at them tonight. I think they are just wet and the trunk needs a scrubbing but I will investigate further. I appreciate the keen eye.

 

[Martin Sweeney]

I'd keep the branch and lose the bottle of superthrive!

Regards,
Martin

 

[rockm]

Hmm, I'll take another look at them tonight. I think they are just wet and the trunk needs a scrubbing but I will investigate further. I appreciate the keen eye.

I wouldn't worry about the blackish patches. I would worry about buying that much Superthrive though--it takes a lot of magic beans and a barrel of pixie dust to make that big of a bottle of the stuff ;-)

 

[Lars Grimm]

I wouldn't worry about the blackish patches. I would worry about buying that much Superthrive though--it takes a lot of magic beans and a barrel of pixie dust to make that big of a bottle of the stuff ;-)

The last time I used that Superthrive, my amur maple developed chlorosis!! It is for display purposes only now =)

 

[JudyB]

Tis a nice big trunk. You will have lots of fun developing it.

 

[Shun]

Nice trunk. If it was mine, I would thread-graft all new branches, and not use any of the current ones in the final design.

I agree 100% with Brian!

Nice trunk!

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

Its a nice trunk. I don't like big scars that low on the trunk. I see two options, losing all the branches and start with new branches, leaving it years . Or making the lowest branch a solid lowest branch, almost a second trunk, but not just yet (hope you understand).

 

[rockm]

Its a nice trunk. I don't like big scars that low on the trunk. I see two options, losing all the branches and start with new branches, leaving it years . Or making the lowest branch a solid lowest branch, almost a second trunk, but not just yet (hope you understand).

Or just put the scar to the back of the final design...;-)