My Trident growing up.

[Goodroot]

I put this Trident Mapld in the ground in 2018. Mostly clay type soil, but I amended it a bit. Left it there through the years. I tried air layers late last year. Got antsy as I was learning. They all failed, so I gave it this trunk chop early this year(2024). Look at how small that leader started out. Now 10-11 months later, it’s about 7’ long! And healthy! I took a shovel to the perimeter in late summer to get it ready to be dug up. My question-do I leave it in this mostly clay soil or now when the weather is cool, move it to a more fertile piece of Earth? I’m in NE Tx.
And does this look like it will turn into good tapper?
And , should I let that wild leader keep going, or could I air layer it next spring?Yall think it should remain another year or two before cutting? Thanks for any advice.
Happy New Year to you B’nuts.

 

[Gabler]

I'd be inclined to completely dig up the tree and work on the roots this spring, and then put it back in the same spot to continue growing. Stake the tree to keep the wind from knocking it over before the roots can reestablish. A seven-foot leader would have the leverage to uproot the tree in a stiff breeze. After thickening the next section of trunk, I would chop it again. That might be this summer, or it could take longer. It depends on how well the tree bounces back from root work. In the meantime, don't neglect to grow a few branches to use in your later design. Grow more branches than you think you'll need, and keep those branches pruned while the leader grows free, so they don't get too thick for your intended design.

 

[Shibui]

I agree with dig and work on roots. Nebari is a very important part of maple bonsai but very few growers appear to give much thought until right at the end. I find it much better to prepare roots much earlier in the process to achieve best results. You will also get a chance to see how the existing roots will affect the front and trunk angle which may affect future growing and chops and where to retain possible branches. It is up to you whether to replant in a new spot or use the same place. It seems to be growing well enough in that soil as is. Maybe add some nutrient rich mulch or dig some fertiliser into the soil before you replant.
Please note that a root pruned tree will need more regular water that it does now with well established roots deep in the soil, at least until the roots get going again.

The new leader has not yet healed the big chop. That's one of the downsides of growing trunks to size then chopping - large cuts that takes years to heal over.
However, you don't want the leader getting so big that your next chop will also take many years to heal over so I'd probably chop it when you dig and prune the roots then let another leader grow next year. I suspect you'll still find that it will grow almost as well as this one did. Any growth above that big chop will add to the healing. Doesn't matter if it's older growth or new. Layer the leader if you wish. The layer process will probably have similar effect to a chop though maybe not as immediate.

 

[dbonsaiw]

The new leader has not yet healed the big chop. That's one of the downsides of growing trunks to size then chopping - large cuts that takes years to heal over.

Big chop v cut and grow - probably the most important concept you introduced me to. It is so important it Deserves its own thread IMO - it’s just too abstract a concept to fully understand with only a few years under one’s belt. Personally, I was always looking for starting maple material with some girth, even if the trunk was straight and nebari was lousy. It’s finally clicking that I am not saving any time with material like this.