Keep it or Cut it?

[0soyoung]

Hmmmm very nice pot and I like it! In my opinion Brian I think an oval pot goes better with the feeling of this tree. It is tall, feminine and elegant. The rectangular one is perhaps a bit too "hard" or rigid. I will definitely vote for oval on this one!


On second thought I think it looks terrible and you should sell it to me! I have the perfect maple for this pot

I agree on all points. In fact, I think an oval with more rounded sides (vertically) would be even better for this feminine beauty.

My trees are sooooo many years away from this. Thanks for allowing me the vicarious pleasure, Brian.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Spend a couple hours repotting this one today. Along with a whole lot of branch work, it has had several root grafts applied to improve the base. They were in place for 2 years, and it took nearly 2 hours to comb out the root mass to see what was going on. 4 of the 7 took, and interestingly, 2 were still viable enough on their own to reuse, so I applied 2 more approach grafts to fill in a couple gaps. And, planted it into a different pot. I think I like it, but it's been in that Yamafusa for almost 10 years, so it's going to take time to get used to it! More when it starts leafing out..

 

[barrosinc]

I enjoy every time this thread pops up.

 

[MACH5]

Very nice Brian! The oval pot in my opinion is a vast improvement on the overall image.

 

[fredtruck]

I agree the oval pot is better, but what amazes me is the incremental improvement this tree has undergone. You're very aware of the weak spots in the tree and have worked very hard to improve them. I think you're succeeding. Congratulations!

 

[Nybonsai12]

Nice update on this one, such a wonderful tree! Can't wait til the rest of the fresh red pops out. Look at that root mass!

Few questions:
I didn't see if you answered this elsewhere in the thread. Are the root grafts you placed the same cultivar? I'd imagine not but wasn't sure. Which leads me to ask if you are you able to root cuttings from this tree? if so, how?

With the wiring done, how long do you think you will leave on, specifically will you leave the raffia'd branches longer than the rest? I'm always asking people from different areas this to try and get a better understanding of growth charateristics in their area as opposed to mine.

Thanks!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Are the root grafts you placed the same cultivar?
--No. I had hoped to, but I didn't get around to it in time, and the cuttings grew too big to use, so the grafts are just seedlings. I did the first round of thread grafts with Kathy Shaner, who assured me I was being too OCD, and it wouldn't matter.

are you able to root cuttings from this tree? if so, how?
--Yes, semi-hardwood in May...but because of bud-plucking, I don't usually have much to work with from the big one, so I strike cuttings from its two offspring still in a growing-out mode.

With the wiring done, how long do you think you will leave on, specifically will you leave the raffia'd branches longer than the rest?
--Probably until June. It just needs to be monitored so wire doesn't cut in.

 

[Dan W.]

Very nice Brian! I'm really looking forward to the spring foliage in this pot!!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Very nice Brian! I'm really looking forward to the spring foliage in this pot!!

Here is an early peek...entering year 3 of the 5 year plan...

 

[JudyB]

Gorgeous Brian, just beautiful. Plans are great when they look this good!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Another shot. I really don't like this camera.

 

[JudyB]

The tree looks great, but the image looks grainy. Did you edit it at all? I find that the reduce noise function in the iphoto does wonderful things.

 

[barrosinc]

The tree looks great, but the image looks grainy. Did you edit it at all? I find that the reduce noise function in the iphoto does wonderful things.

I do not believe that will help, I do not see chroma noise, it seems like it is not sharp... just a guess, low light forced the ISO up on the camera sacrificing sharpness, camera shake blur or a dirty lens. Try photoshop unsharp mask (the name sounds counterintuitive, do not overdo it, you get to a point where things seem to be cut out with a chisel).

 

[Jason]

I like the new pot Brian. It's a very nice progression. Your starting to get some nice ramification. So since we are all nitpicking: Do you feel like the top part of your trees canopy has a different (more deciduous feel) than the lower portion (more traditional)? Its like there's a transition there from what existed to what you more recently developed. I understand branch angles become more acute as you go up a tree but I wonder if the transition could be smoother while still using the original branches. I always struggle to do this and still achieve negative space...(And just for the record this is better than any of my maples look and I really do consider this nitpicking.)

 

[Jason]

I guess if you ever decide to remove that lower branch that will partially take care of the problem.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I think the gap on the left side between the first and the next branch up magnifies it. There is a second branch which is being moved into that space, and while it's been moved into the space front to back, I wasn't able to raise it up into that gap...that will take a little time.

 

[j evans]

Nice work, it looks great and getting better. Maybe someday I have one close. Keep up the good work!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Got pretty wild over the last week or so. It's been a long time since its been allowed to grow out, so I'll give it a little more time to pump up before giving it a haircut. I did hold the top back to preserve some of the ramification, but the bottom got to run free.

 

[MACH5]

Nice Brian! I do the same with most of my maples every year.

 

[Eric Group]

So, have you ever considered trunk chopping this guy just above that bottom branch and making a cascade out of it? Somebody here^^^did that recently, and I think that is definitely the way to go with your Maple Brian... Just air layer that top off and mail it to me as my "cut" (pun intended) for coming up with the great idea! Thanks!

Jk of course... I do want to ask though.. Have you considered removing that sort of sub trunk on the right? It is distracting to me in some images. This is probably just a 2 dimensional problem, but from the angle most commonly presented as the front, it creates some uneven taper, kind of gently angles off then suddenly shoots straight right... Especially with you creating more space on the left (holes for the birds to fly through is what Naka said right?) It is the only part of the tree I look at and think that it just doesn't fit the rest of the design. Again- probably looks better in person! Photos flatten everything out and it is probably more of a back branch that is needed to add depth... But have you ever thought of changing or removing that one as well?

I thought it was a great change and a gutsy move to take off the left branch earlier this year! Needed to be done IMO!

Regardless- gorgeous tree! Your care is obviously exceptional, it is thriving and you know better than me what direction to take I am sure!