Big Cuts on Maple - Summer NZ

[Aaronsbonsai]

Hello everyone, I found this maple at my local plant centre and want to cut it back (as indicated on the image) to start my bonsai. I want to know if summer is a good time to do this in New Zealand?

Also, is there anything else I should be aware of when doing this? Last thing, is cut paste worth investing in?

Thanks in advance

 

[eplov90]

In my experience, chopping maples in mid-summer(end of July here in UK) is a good time. With healthy, vigorous trees I am able to make the cut I actually want, without dieback and get the callous rolling over the wound before fall/winter kicks in. I would recommend cut paste to avoid desiccation around the cut, which will help the cut start to close over cleanly.

That being said, I would cut your maple back much further -- you seem to be leaving long, straight, taperless sections of the trunk in place so before you chop, step back and think about the kind of tree you want in the long term. As a beginner, I did that with one of my maples and essentially lost a year of progression as I had to go back and chop the trunk another inch or two to the next branch below. It's not a disaster but thinking ahead to the taper and movement you want in the trunk line is a good practice.

 

[Aaronsbonsai]

In my experience, chopping maples in mid-summer(end of July here in UK) is a good time. With healthy, vigorous trees I am able to make the cut I actually want, without dieback and get the callous rolling over the wound before fall/winter kicks in. I would recommend cut paste to avoid desiccation around the cut, which will help the cut start to close over cleanly.

That being said, I would cut your maple back much further -- you seem to be leaving long, straight, taperless sections of the trunk in place so before you chop, step back and think about the kind of tree you want in the long term. As a beginner, I did that with one of my maples and essentially lost a year of progression as I had to go back and chop the trunk another inch or two to the next branch below. It's not a disaster but thinking ahead to the taper and movement you want in the trunk line is a good practice.

Thank you mate, much appreciated

 

[Shibui]

Your Japanese maple is still relatively small so those are minor cuts and can be done any time. Summer is good for pruning maples as has already been stated.
Cut paste definitely helps close larger cuts but I probably would not bother with cuts under 1 cm like these.

I also agree with the advice to cut to remove long straight sections. Development pruning aims to shorten trunks and branches but also to make taper in the branches and trunks. Pruning also adds bends so need to consider all that when planning where to cut.

As in all things bonsai, where and when to cut depends on what you want to achieve.

 

[Aaronsbonsai]

Your Japanese maple is still relatively small so those are minor cuts and can be done any time. Summer is good for pruning maples as has already been stated.
Cut paste definitely helps close larger cuts but I probably would not bother with cuts under 1 cm like these.

I also agree with the advice to cut to remove long straight sections. Development pruning aims to shorten trunks and branches but also to make taper in the branches and trunks. Pruning also adds bends so need to consider all that when planning where to cut.

As in all things bonsai, where and when to cut depends on what you want to achieve.

Thank you Shibui! I have a follow up question. I repotted this tree into a slightly larger pot relatively recently. Should Make the cuts now or wait until the tree is settled in it's new home?

Thanks again

 

[Shibui]

Before I give a black and white answer I need more info.
How recent is relatively recent?
What sort of root reduction did it get when you potted it on?

 

[Aaronsbonsai]

Before I give a black and white answer I need more info.
How recent is relatively recent?
What sort of root reduction did it get when you potted it on?

About 2 weeks ago, and no root reduction at this stage. I just loosened the roots a bit

 

[Shibui]

About 2 weeks ago, and no root reduction at this stage. I just loosened the roots a bit

In that case there's no problem pruning now. I've been chopping JM in the last few weeks and will likely do more as I find trees that need it.

 

[minkes]

(Cut) Or use that branches for even more thickening of the trunk. Also consinder air layering of useless branches to have more JM to play with..