whfarro
Chumono
I have had just the opposite experience...UPS takes great care with delivery and FedEx not so much. Eithet way its a damn shame when a much anticipated purchase arrives in pieces.
WARREN HILL JAPANESE MAPLE CLUMP
- Thread starter MACH5
- Start date
whfarro
Chumono
For some reason my comments didn't post. I deleted and tried to repost. Was just commiserating with the frustration and anger you must have felt.
jriddell88
Omono
Yea that's a terrible shame ..that's a good sized pot and I know it wasn't cheap. I used to work at UPS trust me those guys are rough
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Thanks Will. After having a tough week last week this was all I needed to cap it off!
But now I am focused in getting it fixed complete with the gold paint and all.
Brian Underwood
Chumono
Oh man, that's disappointing! I actually considered buying that pot for a maple clump of my own 
A buddy of mine worked at UPS and they would literally THROW boxes across the warehouse to one another on a daily basis. This of course ended up in many crashing sounds of broken pottery, but none of the guys cared. I always ship USPS and have never once had a problem with their handling, but have had numerous problems with both UPS and Fedex.
A buddy of mine worked at UPS and they would literally THROW boxes across the warehouse to one another on a daily basis. This of course ended up in many crashing sounds of broken pottery, but none of the guys cared. I always ship USPS and have never once had a problem with their handling, but have had numerous problems with both UPS and Fedex.
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Oh man, that's disappointing! I actually considered buying that pot for a maple clump of my own
That's sad and disconcerting to hear Brian but not surprised. I will have to agree with this. I have had the best experience with the USPS service. They are also the cheapest and they deliver on Saturdays.
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
I've had my eye on that pot for a long time. If it were deeper, I'd have been the one with the broken pot to fix! I can't wait to see the tree in this, I'm sure it will repair well.
At least for training. FYI just had to repot the clump, it's pushing leaves already!!! So great in the new pot.
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Did not know it was kicking around for a while. I happened to stumble upon it just recently and thought it was perfect for this tree. Wow that is early Judy but not surprised with this crazy and warmer than average winter we've had. I can't wait to see your clump in its new pot!
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
As usual, oftentimes through virtuals I try to envision what my trees may look like 5 even 10 years down the line. Here is one for this maple of what it could possibly look like in hopefully 5 years time.
fredman
Masterpiece
Very good vision on the small left branch. It completes the tree....I can now understand why you want to keep it. The tree wont be as good without it IMHO
waw mach, thats a good virtual. i have to say i had a bit problem with the apex and the sudden change at the top but looking at your virt,
if you can build it like this and it surely seems possible that is a very good idea. il liked the virt by smoke too but it seemed missing something extra to make the tree a level higher.
the 2 apex way you are making gives the tree its own identity and its gonna look awesome im sure.
nice one
if you can build it like this and it surely seems possible that is a very good idea. il liked the virt by smoke too but it seemed missing something extra to make the tree a level higher.
the 2 apex way you are making gives the tree its own identity and its gonna look awesome im sure.
nice one
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
I think the double apex can work, but I do think that it would look better if there were less distance between them, and less of a U shape where they conjoin. And in gawking at and drooling over this tree, I think that if there were a lower back branch on the small left trunk, that would solve for me the way it seems too much apart, and a bit too straight compared to the rest of the clump.
This must be a wonderful tree to see every day. Love it, multi trunks are where it's at for me!
This must be a wonderful tree to see every day. Love it, multi trunks are where it's at for me!
Don Blackmond
Omono
Oh man, that's disappointing! I actually considered buying that pot for a maple clump of my own
I ship Fedex, UPS and USPS. They are all the same. USPS is getting better since its losing money hand over fist and they are trying to improve its image. Fedex was the best but now uses a lot of contract drivers who aren't invested. UPS is just high volume abusive.
I looked at Sergio's pot on ebay and considered buying it but it was too shallow for my needs. The price was right and I almost bought it just because.... Now I'm glad I held off. Sorry Sergio, I know it can be a bit disheartening buying a specific pot for a specific tree only to have it ruined in transit.
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
DJ that was my thought process as well. I felt that all trunks having single apexes was perhaps a bit too expected. I did like the idea of braking that sequence up. We shall see how it plays out. I can always go back to single apex if I need to.
Good comments Judy. Trying to keep it all in mind as I progress. The back skinny trunk will be no problem to add some movement to it in the future. The spacing between the left trunk and the rest of the tree seems more obvious now because in the virtual I removed a back branch filling that space. I felt I needed more negative space there when I was painting the virtual but I may have to reconsider this? As far as it still being too straight I will need to keep working on that.
I am still in pain man!
But again in this case I will have to blame the seller. The box he used I thought was ridiculously small with not enough padding. UGH!!!
JudyB
Queen of the Nuts
At least it cracked in the best possible way. Bet it repairs well, and since it'll only be visible on the ends.... Could be worse! but still sucky.I am still in pain man!
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Crack and another nice Manhole!
My kinda thread!
I thought you were going to shorten it some....
Looks badass tho.
Sorce
My kinda thread!
I thought you were going to shorten it some....
Looks badass tho.
Sorce
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Thanks sorce! I did think about it quite a bit when I first bought the tree but ultimately ended up using as much of it as I could.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Yes!
When I saw the actual results....I was quite delighted!
Seems like a wobbly fence to be on....
You could fall either way and get a good image!
I think the tall version lends itself better to a winter viewing.
Your moss hand is talented!
Sorce
MACH5
Imperial Masterpiece
Although I tried to preserve most of the original material, early last year I became dissatisfied with the overall lanky design. I happen to be walking in the garden one day with saw in hand, and on the spur of the moment I chopped the tree more than half way down in just a couple of minutes cutting the trunks flat across. The deed was done! Now I left myself with no choice but to rethink the design.
I let it bud back and grow freely for the rest of the year without paying too much attention to it except watering and fertilizing it. In response to the drastic cutting back, the tree produced huge leaves, some almost 5" wide! It looked like a huge unwieldy weed by July.
Below is the maple as it looked in late February of this year. Long whips where left in case I needed to make thread grafts. They are gathered and tied together to make it easier to store the tree in winter.
As buds were beginning to swell, it was repotted into a smaller container. I used finely ground New Zealand sphagnum moss to cover the soil surface to prevent the fine surface roots from drying and encourage their development.
On the tallest trunk, unfortunately the new leader grew facing in when it should be facing out for better visual flow and balance. I decided to correct this with a thread graft. I first drilled a hole starting right at the spot where I needed the new leader, drilling right through to the other side of the trunk. The hole is made just big enough to fit the whip through taking care not to damage the buds in the process.
From the scraps of wood that were left from some pruned stubs, I made two small straight slivers. These are used to wedge them in between the whip and the hole in the trunk for a snug fit and prevent anything from moving at all. This is done on both ends.
The threaded whip with the wooden slivers in place on both sides. After ensuring a tight fit, the slivers are cut flush with the trunk for a clean finish. The whip is then wired.
The wired whip is then set into the desired position and cut paste is used on both ends to keep the area protected and prevent it from drying. The thread graft is now done. The graft will have taken after the exit side becomes thicker than its entry side. It is much safer to leave it alone longer than not before cutting the entry portion off.
The tree now restyled and less than half its original size. Only three trunks were kept. The other two I felt only made the image look too congested. Also, as I worked the tree, a better front than the one originally selected revealed itself which is shown below.
This is the intended design probably achievable in eight to ten years time.
I let it bud back and grow freely for the rest of the year without paying too much attention to it except watering and fertilizing it. In response to the drastic cutting back, the tree produced huge leaves, some almost 5" wide! It looked like a huge unwieldy weed by July.
Below is the maple as it looked in late February of this year. Long whips where left in case I needed to make thread grafts. They are gathered and tied together to make it easier to store the tree in winter.
As buds were beginning to swell, it was repotted into a smaller container. I used finely ground New Zealand sphagnum moss to cover the soil surface to prevent the fine surface roots from drying and encourage their development.
On the tallest trunk, unfortunately the new leader grew facing in when it should be facing out for better visual flow and balance. I decided to correct this with a thread graft. I first drilled a hole starting right at the spot where I needed the new leader, drilling right through to the other side of the trunk. The hole is made just big enough to fit the whip through taking care not to damage the buds in the process.
From the scraps of wood that were left from some pruned stubs, I made two small straight slivers. These are used to wedge them in between the whip and the hole in the trunk for a snug fit and prevent anything from moving at all. This is done on both ends.
The threaded whip with the wooden slivers in place on both sides. After ensuring a tight fit, the slivers are cut flush with the trunk for a clean finish. The whip is then wired.
The wired whip is then set into the desired position and cut paste is used on both ends to keep the area protected and prevent it from drying. The thread graft is now done. The graft will have taken after the exit side becomes thicker than its entry side. It is much safer to leave it alone longer than not before cutting the entry portion off.
The tree now restyled and less than half its original size. Only three trunks were kept. The other two I felt only made the image look too congested. Also, as I worked the tree, a better front than the one originally selected revealed itself which is shown below.
This is the intended design probably achievable in eight to ten years time.
cockroach
Chumono
Wow. Didn't see that coming. Brave move.
