In ground What else should I do prior to root pruning

[Japonicus]

No

Ok then. My shovel foot is fractured, so I'll give my left foot a go of it tomorrow.
The Autumn Moon in the yard will take a good strong spading and mattock to get through.
I can used the mattock but can't pogo stick the shovel like I like to any more.
Freezing temps through this weekend coming so the work won't be over for a while.

 

[Japonicus]

Ran me out of pumice today. BJ has it back in stock now.
I prefer to do this 2 weeks ago. After that is unknown for me.
Scratched some areas on the bigger roots and applied clonex.

 

[pandacular]

Is there a similar option I might find locally. Long thumg tacks, paneling nails with modified plastic washers...?

No reason regular flat head thumbtacks wouldn't work.

 

[Japonicus]

Coming along

 

[Japonicus]

It lives yay, and putting on new growth.

 

[johnl445]

View attachment 547215
It lives yay, and putting on new growth.

Awesome grow box

 

[Japonicus]

Awesome grow box

Just scrap 2x4s and plywood.
I had pics of the temp side boards I put on to tack down cardboard to protect from wind and facilitate covering with a sheet to protect from frost but have deleted them.

 

[circledisk]

I know this an old thread to resurrect but I just started a 2024 field growing thread yesterday: https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/the-2024-field-growing-thread.64855/

 

[circledisk]

Would love to see the progress on this tree posted there to get things going!

 

[Japonicus]

Haven just dug this Spring...
Should I just let all growth extend or start cutting back to 3 or 4 nodes?

 

[Japonicus]

Also noticed today that the right side of box was wet while the left side was dry.

 

[Gabler]

Haven just dug this Spring...
Should I just let all growth extend or start cutting back to 3 or 4 nodes? View attachment 548609

Let it grow.

 

[Japonicus]

Pic taken about a week ago...
Should I hedge prune now or simple branch select? I am not confident with JMs at all but I know I need to start doing something.
It's getting pretty dense making spotting insects difficult if there were any, which also creates too much shade.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Of course it depends on your goal

At this point might want to shape (hedge) prune lightly, then go in and cut back to two sets of leaves.

Then assess if any further pruning* needs to be done to ensure sunlight is getting into the interior.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Dav4]

I’d be selecting branches- ok to keep more than needed now- ( best design decisions are made when the tree is bare) and wiring out new growth before it lignifies. Cut back when the bends have set, cut back, then repeat with new growth. I’d be feeding a lot right now, too.

 

[Japonicus]

Of course it depends on your goal

I knew this was coming and agree whole heartedly.
My initial goal is survival. I've tried Japanese maples at different times throughout my journey, but they, errr I always fail. 5 years in a pot would be a record for me. Needless to say, I have no experience carrying out a goal on a Japanese maple.

I’d be selecting branches- ok to keep more than needed now- ( best design decisions are made when the tree is bare) and wiring out new growth before it lignifies. Cut back when the bends have set, cut back, then repeat with new growth. I’d be feeding a lot right now, too.

Thanks Dave if you look back at post 44, with less leaves the 2nd branch up on the left side including that smaller trunk, looks to be a good place to try to start in my mind to get a design idea by elimination, in my mind. Removing it late Winter or...the hedge prune comment question was a Walter Paul persuaded one. I think he does Summer hard cuts maybe?
Other than the 1st left branch I'm not sure but it opens up a duet option or mother daughter.
Guess I'll think with sheers in hand and get a couple more pics.

What thickness, should I consider for removal or shortening? 1/8" maybe?

I've been giving it full strength miraclo gro about every 10 days and fish emulsion.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Dazed upon #44, the thick branches all over will need to be cut back eventually. At this point the tree styling will eventually be made up of the little branches.

The first thing, no matter what else is done is to push back to twos to get sum inside to enhance the inner growth and sprouting of new shoots. This will allow one to see what’s going on inside, mark prospective cuts.

While one can cut back now, preserving these until the leaves fall, provides the trunk more energy.

It’s the usual competing goods

Cut now get going on styling, cut the same branches later, make the tree strong for styling cuts later.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[clem]

Of course it depends on your goal

+1
Dunno if you already made a virtual (or drawing) of your project, but if you did, just stick to your project and proceed logically (branche or main trunk too thin -> let grow, trim if you want to ramify and to let the sunlight enter the tree, etc etc)

 

[Japonicus]

+1
Dunno if you already made a virtual (or drawing) of your project, but if you did, just stick to your project and proceed logically (branche or main trunk too thin -> let grow, trim if you want to ramify and to let the sunlight enter the tree, etc etc)

Hi Clem
No I never draw plans for any of my projects.
I take my hands and scissors in and begin thinking and desiging with them instead.
I would be happy with it as a pad driven or mound design either way. I have ideas as I go. One the mother daughter that I don't seem to pull off on target with conifers, but leaving the option there for trunk thickening for now and maybe the next nut that gets this tree can develop that style.
Next just beneath the canopy is a branch I'm going to wire down to make a pad front and centre. Beyond this, I don't have any plans yet.
Walther Paul promotes the hedge prune in Summer. I sort of did a hybrid approach trim today with mostly horizontal growth/prune in mind with all growth. Few if any cuts were made at opposing vertical leaves. I did find 2 ants but no scale.







Next is a strange bifurcation. There were 2 like this occurring at the 1st long node on each, so I removed both. Leaves near this juncture were deformed.

Another option is to remove all 3 lowest branches...eventually, or a 2 trunk design which kind of comes naturally here.

 

[clem]

If it was mine, I would probably do that trimming and project.. But everybody's taste is different..

On my virtual, i put a "?" because i don't know how is the base and nebari. But for me, if the nebari/base is good, you have a good pre-Bonsai IMO