Damaged Red Dragon

[gallina1594]

A few weeks ago, I was at my local nursery when I came across a section of damaged Red Dragon Japanese maples. All of them had a large majority of their branches snapped off :'( so this one was on sale for $25! (See pictures) I've never had a red maple before so I was doing some research and learned that most of them are grafted onto other maple trunks. That being said, there's a spot on this trees trunk that has a knot on it from years of suckers being cut off and regrowing :/ what's the best method to deal with these suckers and fixing this knot?!

 

[just.wing.it]

Chop it real low....make a shohin.
Maybe not now though.
I think springtime is best for big chops.

 

[gallina1594]

I was thinking of chopping it, but im not positive where the graft is, I'll post a picture of where I think it is

 

[just.wing.it]

Oh wow, that's kinda high up....
It's possible that the root stock is a more desirable type of maple for bonsai anyway...

 

[thumblessprimate1]

I think the maple is an ok deal, but for use as a landscape tree. For $25 you could start with a maple cutting, seedling or airlayer some folks sell on the forum or on FB.

 

[gallina1594]

I'm thinking about chopping it about 8 inches above the graft, theres a nice size branch there that will make for an interesting cascading crown down the road. Is it possible to save the other end from the chop and grow some roots from it?

 

[Dav4]

I'm thinking about chopping it about 8 inches above the graft, theres a nice size branch there that will make for an interesting cascading crown down the road. Is it possible to save the other end from the chop and grow some roots from it?

No, and I wouldn't bother. There's not much bonsai worthy to save above your proposed chop. Honestly, these weeping dissectums are iffy for bonsai projects. I agree with thumbless that this one should be planted out in the landscape.

 

[GailC]

I would make a air layer right above the graft. That way you could have the red top to plant in yard and the bottom to bonsai

 

[gallina1594]

I would make a air layer right above the graft. That way you could have the red top to plant in yard and the bottom to bonsai

Very good idea!