Candy_J_Shirey

You have already taken care of a key element by choosing to buy from from a reputable specialist nursery.

Acer palmatum 'deshojo' is a slow grower and therefore a slow healer. Beware of ugly scars.

Rootage: Look for uniform and natural roots - well positioned spreading roots. (Make sure that it is firm in the pot - wobbly trees may indicate root problems.)

Trunk: Even taper from roots to crown (no scars)

Foliage: should be healthy and tightly packed with vigor even in lower growing shoots.

Branches: Good branch placement - no wire scars

The ramification and internode length are probably not primary considerations for your tree. If this is presently a problem on any of the trees, it can be more easily corrected than root, trunk, branch placement, or health problems.