Maple Repot Video

TreeBay

This message thread covers the repotting of a Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum). *The tree is very large. *Tree and container weigh about 100 lbs.

For this thread I thought I would try something new. *This is video in Windows Media Format. *If you don't have Windows Media Player, I will include a link where you can download it.

You should have the option box (auto download Codecs) checked or you might not be able to get the video. *Some sections have a bit of audio too.

The files are relatively small. *Most are less than 1meg, so they should be accessible to modem users. *The video starts streaming as soon as a bit has been buffered, so if you are on a modem, it may start to early and stop again. *Just let the whole thing download before trying to restart.

This first segment is short to allow you to test your connection.

Ready?

Let's start with the next message!

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First Chapter - Preparing the Tree for repotting.

VIDEO SEGMENT #1
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SUMMARY: With some help from my daughter, we are loading the maple onto the workbench. _Ugh! _Time Lapse, no audio.

VIDEO SEGMENT #2
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SUMMARY: Weeds are pulled around the base of the tree and some dead leaves are cleared away in preparation for repotting. Time Lapse.

VIDEO SEGMENT #3
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SUMMARY: A branch that died in a prior season is pruned away. _It's in a good location too. _Unfortunately the tree was allowed to dry out a little too much on that side, and I have learned to keep my maples out of the direct California sun during the hottest part of summer. _Real Time with Audio (Yes those are frogs)

VIDEO SEGMENT #4
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SUMMARY: The wound is now worked over with a grafting knife to smooth the profile of the wound. _Time Lapse, no audio.

VIDEO SEGMENT #5
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SUMMARY: The tree is worked over lightly with shears. _Time Lapse, no audio.

VIDEO SEGMENT #6
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SUMMARY: Because we are well into spring, the tree is defoliated prior to transplanting. About 1/2 the existing leaves are removed from the zones of strength (crown and exterior branches) This likely unnecessary, but a good idea if you wind up doing some work in late spring.

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VIDEO SEGMENT #7
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SUMMARY: The wire cutters are used to cut the wires that secure the tree into the container. _Time lapse, no audio.

VIDEO SEGMENT #8
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SUMMARY: Using the repotting hook, the tree is cut free of the growing box. _The roots will actually grow between and in some cases into the wood if the box is very old.

This growing box will be reused as it is made of redwood and still in good condition after 2 years. _I sometimes wonder about the effect of tannins in the redwood on the trees, but so far I haven't had problems, except with a stewartia, but that may not be the cause.

The tree is tilted up on all four sides to pull it completely free of the container and anchor wires.

VIDEO SEGMENT #9
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SUMMARY: The tree is removed from the growing box. _Time Lapse, no audio.

VIDEO SEGMENT #10
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SUMMARY: The root hook is used to comb out the roots. _Some drainage mesh is removed from the root ball and pieces of anchor wire are rooted out. _No cutting takes place until I'm satisfied all the wire and screen has been removed.

The tree is leaned over and access to the root base is available. _Note that having a narrow table is very useful as the tree can rest over the table's edge with canopy on one side and root ball on the other. _A rubber pad is used to protect the trunk of the tree.


VIDEO SEGMENT #11
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SUMMARY: Roots are pruned with shears. _With the tree now on its side we have unrestricted access to the root ball. _First the shears are used to define the perimeter of the root ball. _Then the repotting sickle (small sod scythe) is used to rapidly cut away fine roots and soil. This is a time lapse, so the speed is about 10:1, but doesn't the sickle make quick work of the roots? I used to spend probably four times as long with shears doing the same job. If you have fine roots, as with most bonsai, the sickle is a quick way to go and it saves strain on your hands.

When the tree is returned to upright we have a nice compact root ball. _This would appropriate for a coniferous tree, but we have a deciduous tree here and in the interest of improving the rootage, we will undercut the rootball more so that it can sit lower in the growing container.

VIDEO SEGMENT #12
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SUMMARY: Downward growing roots are pruned and the rootball is shaped to make it thin as practical. _ _The root sickle is used to flatten the root ball. _ The root hook is used to expose large woody roots that point directly downward or emerge at an angle from beneath the tree, _and the large root pruners are used to cut them out.

The white areas that are appearing underneath the tree show the regions where woody roots were removed.

Finally the stubs of root grafts made two seasons ago are removed with the root cutter.

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CHAPTER THREE

VIDEO SEGMENT #13
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SUMMARY: The roots are watered with a hose-end sprayer to keep them moist while the growing box is prepared for repot. _Never allow roots to dry out!

VIDEO SEGMENT #14
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SUMMARY: A scrub brush is used to clean the growing box for re-use.

VIDEO SEGMENT #15
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SUMMARY: Anchor wires are measured and cut to length added to the growing box. _Two long pieces of wire are needed, each should be about twice the length of a side of the container. _ _For this growing box we are using large gauge aluminum wire, but copper could be used as well.

To snug down the wire and eliminate kinks, after the wire is passed through the holes in the bottom of the container, the two ends are grasped in either hand and jerked sharply upward. _Afterwards, the wires are folded down out of the way over the top edge of the container until they are needed.

VIDEO SEGMENT #16
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SUMMARY: A few pieces of screen that had become dislodged in the transplant are secured with a staplegun.

Growing boxes can be built with fantastic drainage as compared with your average bonsai pot.

VIDEO SEGMENT #17
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SUMMARY: A mound of soil is added to the container and the tree is bedded down onto the pile with a lot of twisting and pressure to force soil up into the rootball from beneath and ensure there are no air gaps.

VIDEO SEGMENT #18
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SUMMARY: The tree is tied into the pot using the tie wires. _Wires go under the surface roots wherever possible to avoid scarring.

VIDEO SEGMENT #19
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SUMMARY: To demonstrate how secure the anchor wires have made the tree, the entire tree and growing box are lifted with the trunk of the tree. _Don't try this with an expensive pot or a weak back.

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CHAPTER FOUR

VIDEO SEGMENT #20
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SUMMARY: Continuing to work in the soil.

VIDEO SEGMENT #21
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SUMMARY: _The soil is worked in well with chopsticks and leveled.

VIDEO SEGMENT #22
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The tree is lifted off the work table onto the cart.

VIDEO SEGMENT #23
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SUMMARY: The tree is lifted off the cart onto a pair of cinder blocks. _We don't want the tree right on the ground. _ The tree will get some morning sun.

VIDEO SEGMENT #24
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SUMMARY: The tree is watered-in thoroughly. _The actual watering took about 7 minutes and insures that drainage is perfect by washing fine matter out of the soil.

VIDEO SEGMENT #25
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SUMMARY: Cut up long-fiber sphagnum moss is added to the soil surface to reduce evaporation and increase the humidity at the soil's surface to keep roots from drying out. _This will be removed in a few weeks.

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Jay

Matt, Thank you. Extremely interesting, informative, educational etc etc. I enjoyed seeing someone doing the actual work, even if it was time lapse! The lessons learned were wonderful. Even the lesson implied..... Advanced trees can still be in training boxes, do not rush to pot everything that's more than a twig! This had to take you a while to put together, I hope it is enjoyed by all.

A thought, for those of us with high speed connections, could you (on future submissions) place a so to speak one piece file at the end of the segmented one. It did take a lot of going in and out and in to see the entire process!

But..... it was great!!! Worth every minute!!
thanks.. Jay

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Tony

Good stuff, Matt, and quite inforative. I know of a guy that uses a hoist on those large trees to save the back. I see an hour long video tape in your future.

Sandi

Matt,
Thank you for the show. I appreciate very much the time and effort you put into it. It's great to actually see the work being done.

MushaMan

The Videos were nice, seems like pretty basic stuff. However, being able to see things for once, seemed kind of nice. Thanks... now for a video on air layering a japanese maple...
Side note: Seems fairly obvious that bonsai'ers' would be fairly visual learners. However for some reason most of the books i have read have very few diagrams and pictures, and it leaves me with my own interpretation. Viva La Visual.