Hi James,
See below.

"James Quinan" wrote:

I bought this lovely Japanese Maple at my local nursery the other day :-).
It's a lot more mature than the saplings I've been having so much touble
with - about 5' high and about 1cm diameter at the base. It looks very
healthy , just a touch of mealy bug which I've already sprayed for.

5' high and 1 cm in diameter?? Sounds more like a stick with attitude
than a tree :-).

SNIP

How about layering? And what about multiple layers from the one trunk? I'd
like to
make this one tree into 3, and get some variety of forms - single trunk at
the base, and probably 2 dual trunks higher up, making branches into
secondary trunks by layering just under them.

I've never had a problem with an air layer for A.palmatum. I've taken
as many as 6 at a time from a single tree (which might explain why I have
too many now). When I do multiple layers I limit myself to about two from a
single branch line, and haven't done one below another at the same time.
Imagine a -Y- with the tail being the branch attached to the trunk and
layering both the upper sections. This works.

What's the best way to go?
Should I layer higher up the trunk, let the tree recover for a year then
layer off again lower where I want the first chop?

This sounds like the best way for the tree you described. I've never
layered a tree that was still in it's nursery pot. I don't have the faith
that they are as healthy as they can be when they come from the nursery. I
know the trees I work with definately benefit from a year or more under my
care before I consider them in top health.


Or would it be better to layer it lower down, where I want the first chop
to go, then repot the layered tree and layer that one again later?

I think you're in Oz, and if so you have plenty of time to decide for
yourself which way to go. Me, I'd repot come spring and grow some really
healthy roots this next season, and use the time to decide where the best
layers will be.

Also, what's the best medium for layering A. almatum? (And the Liquidambar
for that matter, I forgot to ask). Would sphagnum moss work, or some other
medium?

I use sphagnum and have never had a problem.

Good luck,
Regards,
Shelly Hurd Central CA - Sunset Zone 8-USDA Zone 9