Trunk or woody material below soil level

[Grahamw]

Hi all,
Something that I’ve been wondering… when you plant an air layer, does the ‘base’ - I mean the bit of the branch or trunk that has been chopped and is now below soil level - rot? And if so does it matter?
I also have a maple in development that was a garden tree for a long time and has a mass of woody material below soil level - which seems like it will prevent finer root development etc.. can I remove this? I feel like it’s a problem that may crop up with ‘found’ trees rather than ones cultivated for bonsai from early in their life…
Ta

 

[TrevorLarsen]

When you repot in the future just remove it you can take multiple seasons to do it if you are worried. Eventually you want it all gone so the tree has a flat, thin, radial root system. It’s not as ideal to have a big mount or hill, but some trees especially conifers you can’t be that roughy to the roots so most have a mound of roots, and not a perfect thin pancake.

 

[Dav4]

Hi all,
Something that I’ve been wondering… when you plant an air layer, does the ‘base’ - I mean the bit of the branch or trunk that has been chopped and is now below soil level - rot? And if so does it matter?
I also have a maple in development that was a garden tree for a long time and has a mass of woody material below soil level - which seems like it will prevent finer root development etc.. can I remove this? I feel like it’s a problem that may crop up with ‘found’ trees rather than ones cultivated for bonsai from early in their life…
Ta

After separating the layer and cutting back the stub flush with the bottom of the new trunk base at the first re-pot post separation, the base of layered material quickly calluses over as the new root system grows. At least, that's been my experience with the many Japanese maple layers I've created.

 

[Grahamw]

After separating the layer and cutting back the stub flush with the bottom of the new trunk base at the first re-pot post separation, the base of layered material quickly calluses over as the new root system grows. At least, that's been my experience with the many Japanese maple layers I've created.

Aha, that’s useful thanks! I wonder if that would also happen with the more established maple?..

 

[Dav4]

Aha, that’s useful thanks! I wonder if that would also happen with the more established maple?..

I've got several larger maples in my collection that are between 5 and 10 inches wide at the base, and 2 of them were created via layering. For all of them, when I re-pot, I've got to cut back the callus on the bottom of the trunk because it grows back every time and raises the level of the roots.

 

[Shibui]

I've got several larger maples in my collection that are between 5 and 10 inches wide at the base, and 2 of them were created via layering. For all of them, when I re-pot, I've got to cut back the callus on the bottom of the trunk because it grows back every time and raises the level of the roots.

I have quite a few older maples that have exactly the same issues.

Cuts below ground definitely heal over but occasionally one will rot before healing. I've had a few hollow trunk maples as a result of the heartwood rotting out.