bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Japanese Green Maple (A. palmatum) 6 yo

Hi Nate, You have one of those trees that presents itself it's own problems. It refused to grow like a bonsai should. But thats OK. What I would do, and this may seem drastic to you if you don't have much expierance, cut the tree like the photo. Leave the top fork of a branch, the little one that shoots straight up. Cut off all the other big branches, seal with wound sealant. Do not repot, and do not cut any roots this season. The tree should respond with a flush of new growth. Just pick and choose which ones you wish to remake. This will allow you to get the branches more in scale with the size of the tree. Right now they are much to large and look out of place. The trunk and root spread make this tree deserve to be regrown to acheive balance. You should end up with a good tree in 1-2 years.

Good luck, Bonsaial

13-Feb-2002	#7
bonsaial1 Bonsai Doer Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Fresno, CA Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 13SH Posts: 5,452	Re: Japanese Green Maple (A. palmatum) 6 yo Hi Nate, You have one of those trees that presents itself it's own problems. It refused to grow like a bonsai should. But thats OK. What I would do, and this may seem drastic to you if you don't have much expierance, cut the tree like the photo. Leave the top fork of a branch, the little one that shoots straight up. Cut off all the other big branches, seal with wound sealant. Do not repot, and do not cut any roots this season. The tree should respond with a flush of new growth. Just pick and choose which ones you wish to remake. This will allow you to get the branches more in scale with the size of the tree. Right now they are much to large and look out of place. The trunk and root spread make this tree deserve to be regrown to acheive balance. You should end up with a good tree in 1-2 years. Good luck, Bonsaial __________________ I been kidding the last seven years. no.... really!