maple with some potential?

[JudyB]

I think with a lot of work, this tree can be something special. I fell for it when I saw the dead branch area.... Just did some carving around it, and cleaned out all the punky wood that I could reach. Let it dry then used wood hardener.

This tree needs to be ground layered to attain new rootage at the base flair. It has nice roots, but they are all way buried... It'll also get a complete rework of the branches. I'll keep the general structure of a loose crown, but all the branches will have to get cut back to attain some movement. I'll probably leave a blank spot where the dead branch would've been.

I'm planning on trying out the peeling process for the ground layer that Smoke laid out in his thread "if these were yours?".

I'm hoping to start this at repotting time this spring. Any input or opinions are welcome.

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

I can't believe noone's responded to this yet. This tree has a lot of character. My eye isn't as trained as others' but here's what I think. As for the nebari, I personally like the "claw-foot" look. I think it has an interesting look as it sits currently, but I agree that it could be better. The right side is a bit weak in comparison, so if you tried using Al's technique on that right side root, it might adjust it well. I think what's there currently to use for a crown is perfect. I'll include a picture of what branches I think should be kept. I also agree about leaving that blank spot as a hypothetical broken limb that was never regrown. That deadwood looks awesome, by the way.

While I was at it I did a poorly-drawn virt. lol -- Just an idea I had that may or may not be worth much. There's a bit of a gap between the foliage pads that looks off, but you get the general idea of what I'm going for. I was thinking you could grow or graft a branch for that first foliage pad. Grafting would probably make it easier to get a thick branch...you could just grow a really long whip from one of the branches you plan to remove.

Great tree, though. Nice find!

 

[Dav4]

Judy, interesting material. Japanese maples ground layer very well...I ground layered 2 A. palmatums of a similar size as yours each of the last 2 springs, and so far, the results have been great. My only issue with this tree is the lip at the top of your carving on the right. This is creating a reverse taper problem which completely ruins the wonderful taper and movement of the lower trunk. I would probably carve that portion away eventually to continue the nice taper and movement below it. Any chance to see the tree from other angles? Looks like a real cool project.

Dave

 

[Smoke]

Very cool trunk and worthy of continued work.

Some pluses;
the trunk has a really cool character to it and even though it is shaggy it works well with the overall feeling of the tree.

It is large and mostly refining work is left to do. Eventhough we are building new portions of the tree I still think of it as refining.

It has patina, sabi (rust, meaning old enough to rust)

Some minuses;

The branches are pretty narrow on this tree. i do not get the feeling of a full tree here.

the trunk may be rotton to the core and any work done may be in vain as the tree continues to decay.

The base is bad., but not so bad that is has to be removed.

Has the tree been exposed fully since you have owned it? Do you know it has a claw or not? The bad news is that living in Ohio, doing work of this caliber really needs to be done in longer growing climates to fully get out of a season as much as possible. just when the tree is starting to do what you want it to do, it starts getting ready for winter by shutting down.

It will be interesting to see how you handle the base as well as the branches. Oh one other thing, palmatums will only work about half as quickly as tridents. They are just slower trees.

 

[JudyB]

Thanks Alex, Dave and Smoke
This is a Trident, not a palmatum, just so I clear that up. I agree the branching is too narrow, this is one of the major things I hope to accomplish when growing it back out after cutting back, is to get a broader crown.

Alex, I will probably thread graft to get something lower on the trunk, but probably just above the dead area towards the left rear. Thanks for the virt, glad you see the old man in this tree...

Dave, I don't think I want to change the deadwood area at all. In this instance, I think that the reverse taper that you see, looks accurate and natural on this tree. I don't want to take away the character, and the charm that this area holds. I'll post some more angles later today, maybe you'll agree once you see more.

Smoke, Thanks for taking a look at this, it is to me a very interesting looking rough tree.

I believe I've hit solid wood all around the carving area, and certainly toward the trunk it's very hard. I did wood hardener, so we'll see...

This was a bare root purchase, so I have seen it, it is mostly claw, it has a couple bright spots, that can be used. (shoulda taken pics, but it was cold, and wanted to get it done.) I'm hoping to only peel the places that need it. I'm going to use the warm side of my greenhouse and my heat mat bottom heat to get some early and late growth patterns for my tridents, it did help this fall to extend the season, so am planning on whipping that up for a bit of help.

I'll keep this updated, hope it turns out as good as I think it can... I am excited to try some techniques that are new to me, time to step up and learn.
Thanks all.

 

[Smoke]

Thats the spirit. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

 

[JudyB]

Exactly.

Here are some more angles of the tree particularly of the deadwood area.

Dave, do you see how the live wood has curled around and away from the deadwood in these shots? So intriguing to me...

I'd love to hear what you think after seeing these...

 

[Dav4]

Exactly.

Here are some more angles of the tree particularly of the deadwood area.

Dave, do you see how the live wood has curled around and away from the deadwood in these shots? So intriguing to me...

I'd love to hear what you think after seeing these...

Thanks for the follow up shots. The "lip" I was referring to is actually preserved deadwood from a decaying branch. Even though it is very unconventional for a maple to have deadwood like this, it doesn't bother me nearly as much as before, so definitely keep it for now. You can always carve it away down the road if you want.

I've mostly worked with conifers, so creating the canopy on this one would give me fits...looking forward to further updates. Good luck,

Dave

 

[davetree]

I thought this was a trident from the look of the branches. I have a very similar tree with the growth pushing and curling around some very big wounds. I would carve the big stump on yours down flush with the trunk, but to each his own ... You buy from Wee Tree Farm ?

 

[JudyB]

Dav4, I know it's unconventional, but I don't really understand why this is. I see plenty of deadwood on deciduous trees, so it looks fitting to me. Like you say I can always loose it down the road, but I like trees with their own unique voice.

Davetree, yes. I like the branch remainder, I'm sure that plenty of people will disagree with that, but I like it. Have you posted your tree you're speaking of? I'd love to see it.

 

[Ang3lfir3]

So that is where this tree went! I was just browsing through Diane's site and noticed it was sold... Glad to see it went to a good home! Ur lucky you beat me to it.

This tree has great potential... an initial reaction is that I like IMG_1584 as the front side... I like the look of the scaring there.

and no worries.... all the nuts that want to destroy the beauty of this gnarly tree by carving it smooth just "don't get it" ....

 

[JudyB]

So that is where this tree went! I was just browsing through Diane's site and noticed it was sold... Glad to see it went to a good home! Ur lucky you beat me to it.

This tree has great potential... an initial reaction is that I like IMG_1584 as the front side... I like the look of the scaring there.

and no worries.... all the nuts that want to destroy the beauty of this gnarly tree by carving it smooth just "don't get it" ....

Yeah, you gotta be quick at wee tree once bare root season starts! I've gotten a number of things from Diane, it's all been good material, this one just leaped off the page at me.

This one will end up in a round pot, (I'll be looking for a rough and textured round) so I imagine that I'll work on more than one "front". I like it from a number of sides, I just gotta get some rootage happening.
Thanks for the thoughts!

 

[davetree]

I have a thread on my tree, I think you replied to it. "Ugly trident maple stock". Looks like they are very similar trees....

 

[Ang3lfir3]

Yeah, you gotta be quick at wee tree once bare root season starts! I've gotten a number of things from Diane, it's all been good material, this one just fleaped off the page at me.

This one will end up in a round pot, (I'll be looking for a rough and textured round) so I imagine that I'll work on more than one "front". I like it from a number of sides, I just gotta get some rootage happening.
Thanks for the thoughts!

You should see what her place looks like in person... it might be small but its full of lots of fun stuff not listed on the site....

A round would be a great idea for the tree.... "front" refers more to "preferred viewing side" which can change over time ... .... you should see about talking to Dale Cochoy if you are looking for a nice rough round....

 

[JudyB]

You should see what her place looks like in person... it might be small but its full of lots of fun stuff not listed on the site....

A round would be a great idea for the tree.... "front" refers more to "preferred viewing side" which can change over time ... .... you should see about talking to Dale Cochoy if you are looking for a nice rough round....

Indeed, I had thought of getting in touch with Dale, just the type of pot I'm after... And he's not that far from me.

 

[tmmason10]

Another nice piece o material Judy, you are on a roll!

 

[JudyB]

Thanks Tom, I have been lucky this year! Course it does help that I'm obsessed, and constantly on the prowl...

 

[Smoke]

Thanks Tom, I have been lucky this year! Course it does help that I'm obsessed, and constantly on the prowl...

You talkin trees right.....?...

 

[JudyB]

of course!

 

[JudyB]

Got started on it today, I may do some more bending of the branches, now that I've seen the photos. It seems like the bends in person are just enough, but in the pic, it doesn't do enough. Anyway, it's a start!

I stuck a pic of it from before so you don't have to scroll back to the beginning...