Can a Trunk be too Big?

[Tidal Bonsai]

I have been working mostly with conifers for the past few years, but I have been gaining interest in some deciduous as of late. Myself and other members of my club have had discussions on this topic, and I am curious to know what you all think?

A member of this site, who is also in my club found this tree marked “Acer Palmatum” at a nursery. From what others have said, it’s either standard AP, Deshojo, or momojji.

The trunk is about 4-5 inches wide above the nebari, and it’s in a monster pot (the kind they lift with forklifts). From various discussions, we have come up with three different hypothetical ways to approach material which are all pictured below. What I was curious about was the eventual size of the “finished tree.”

From what I have read, you chop a tree when it’s 1/3-1/2 the finished thickness you want. So does this mean in a decade or two after the first chop, this will have an 8-10 inch trunk? If so, that seems a bit too much, doesn’t it?!?!

 

[RobertB]

Its very straight. I would consider for good price and try to make a large tree.

 

[M. Frary]

The new leader you grow after the chop you let grow to be 2/3 to 3/4 the thickness of the chopped trunk.
I think you got it backwards some.

 

[Adair M]

I don’t consider a 4 inch trunk to be very thick!

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

The new leader you grow after the chop you let grow to be 2/3 to 3/4 the thickness of the chopped trunk.
I think you got it backwards some.

Read the section on “Growth Rates and Taper”

https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/trunks.htm

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

I don’t consider a 4 inch trunk to be very thick!

View attachment 211234


View attachment 211235

LMAO!!!

 

[Hartinez]

I don’t consider a 4 inch trunk to be very thick!

View attachment 211234


View attachment 211235

As soon as I read this post, this was the first tree that came to mind!! ?

I think it all comes down to personal preference.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

I took the plunge when it went 50% off, this is what I am thinking are the best possible fronts. The trunk is 4.5 inches above the nebari.

I cut out the dead branches, added soil to cover the surface roots, sprayed with fungicide/insecticide, and fertilized with liquid kelp and 0-10-10 for the fall.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Possible Fronts

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Graphic

 

[Johnnyd]

Graphic

The first one seems to have better flow. That one is gonna wear your saw out! Wonder if an Ebehara notch would help. Maybe too big. @markyscott

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

The first one seems to have better flow. That one is gonna wear your saw out! Wonder if an Ebehara notch would help. Maybe too big. @markyscott

Haha! They both seem to have a similar view to the scars that will be created to my eyes. The big toss up is whether I want to get better taper (first one), or better movement (the second). @MACH5 will help me with it at the end of February when he visits our club.

 

[Boerboel313]

I don’t know. Lol. Starting on this Ficus Ben

 

[Adair M]

With that tree, I wouldn’t chop all the branches back to the trunk. I would make a large broom style out of it. Maybe shorten all the branches back about half. Remove that funky horizontal branch.

You can start reducing the root ball, taking at least half off the bottom. Maybe take 3/5 off the bottom. Use a sawsall.

 

[leatherback]

You can start reducing the root ball, taking at least half off the bottom. Maybe take 3/5 off the bottom. Use a sawsall.

Also when it does not seem to have actively growing branches? In my local climate that would be a fairly certain route to the fireplace..

 

[It's Kev]

There’s no such thing as too thick, I’ve acquired this bad boy lately. One day it will be... something

 

[peterbone]

Assuming a typical height to trunk thickness ratio of 6, a 5 inch trunk would give you a 30 inch tree. Add a bit for the pot and that's still well under a meter high, which is common for specimen bonsai.

 

[Anthony]

As Peter said - 1 to 6 for grace, or 1 to 5 for stout.

Came across a trunk wide 6 inch [ 15 cm ] Oxy [ cocaine type ] recently.
it may fall into a river, so will watch if it is going to be a save.
But that is going to be a big tree and many branches / leaves.
A big pot.

Will keep the group updated.

As the shrub goes it is 3 feet [ around 1 m ] tall and wide,
Good Day
Anthony

 

[WesB]

Cutting those leaders and branches off.. sad. I would get some proper photos and seek professional help for this tree if there isn’t a artist near you or something. Saving it for club meeting or workshop even.

 

[Wilson]

That big horizontal branch seems like an airlayer candidate.