Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
A beginner question about maple
A hardware store near my house is having a sale on trees. They have
some America Red Maples on sale for around $12. However, they're about 6 feet tall or so, too tall for bonsai. Is it possible to cut them down somehow? Is there a way to get branches to grow lower on the trunk? Would I have to buy two and thread graft from one to the other or something? Is trying to do this just a waste of time? Adam |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Waste of time. American red maple leaves do not reduce well, making them
poor bonsai subjects. Look for Japanese maples ( Acer palmatum), many of which have small leaves to begin with, and these can be reduced even further. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Scooter the Mighty" To: Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2005 6:24 PM Subject: [IBC] A beginner question about maple A hardware store near my house is having a sale on trees. They have some America Red Maples on sale for around $12. However, they're about 6 feet tall or so, too tall for bonsai. Is it possible to cut them down somehow? Is there a way to get branches to grow lower on the trunk? Would I have to buy two and thread graft from one to the other or something? Is trying to do this just a waste of time? Adam ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Edmund Castillo++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Edmund Castillo++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Hi Adam aka Scooter
I have to disagree (respectfully, of course!) with Marty on this - Am. red maples (Acer rubrum) are NOT a waste of time! Probably less ideal than Japanese maples (A. palmatum), yes, due to a somewhat larger leaf, and longer petioles (leafstalks) which don't pull leaves in as close to the branches as the A. p. And, since it hasn't been bonsai-cultured for centuries, its responses to training are likely to be less predictable than the A. p.'s. Just think of making it a medium-size tree, not a tiny one (tho go for tiny if that's what really appeals to you). Or, take a hint from the Japanese, and plan on optimizing the design to exhibit it with either flowers or barely-open spring leaves. But A. rubrum has some major pluses: easily collectable in most of the Eastern US, and cheap if buying nursery stock. It's a tolerant plant in general, not disease prone or delicate. Craig has a number in pots and they seem to do very well, good roots in culture. Stunning fall color, of course, and around this time of year in the Mid-Atlantic orange-to-red-to-nearly violet flower clusters. One advantage of bonsai is you can admire such tiny tree flowers at close range, rather than trying to spy them at highway speeds, towering 50 feet above you. Our own Jim Lewis has written an excellent article hosted at our friend Brent's excellent website, http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/redmaple.htm It certainly sprouts back from bare trunks (in answer to your question about "trunk chopping," the bonsai term for whacking down a 6 ft tree to begin bonsai training). Bring a bowsaw so you can do it at the store - it's such fun to watch their jaws drop and so much easier to fit into your vehicle... but, ummm... pay for it first You won't have to thread graft unless you really want to put a branch in a particular place exactly. Oh, and when choosing which tree, look mostly at the base of the trunk: does it spread out to a bit of a flare at the base, or is it one-sided or awkward? Is the lower 12-18 inches of trunk shapely (straight or curved depending on your planned style), hopefully with a little taper? Any heavy lower branches you can use to make a new trunk, or that would make an ugly scar if removed? If still unsure between 2 or more trees, look also at the leaves (if they're out) or branching: choose te one with smaller leaves, or with finer/more delicate/ denser twigging. Best of luck, Anita Northern Harford County, Maryland, USA, zone 6/ Lower Hudson Valley, New York, USA, zone 5 ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Edmund Castillo++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
On Mar 31, 2005, at 9:23 PM, Anita Hawkins wrote:
Hi Adam aka Scooter I have to disagree (respectfully, of course!) with Marty on this - Am. red maples (Acer rubrum) are NOT a waste of time! snip Best of luck, Anita Northern Harford County, Maryland, USA, zone 6/ Lower Hudson Valley, New York, USA, zone 5 I agree with Anita (even though she's my wife) Go for it. Look for taper and a flaring base. Craig Cowing NY Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37 ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Edmund Castillo++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
A hardware store near my house is having a sale on trees. They have
some America Red Maples on sale for around $12. However, they're about 6 feet tall or so, too tall for bonsai. Is it possible to cut them down somehow? Is there a way to get branches to grow lower on the trunk? Would I have to buy two and thread graft from one to the other or something? Is trying to do this just a waste of time? Not a waste of time, but a VERY long-term project. If these are like most red maples sold at nurseries, they have very little taper, so it will take a series of trunk chops to develop any. Go to www.evergreengardenworks.com for an excellent article on trunk development. But you're talking 5-8 years here -- or more. Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - People, when Columbus discovered this country, it was plum full of nuts and berries. And I'm right here to tell you (that) the berries are just about all gone. -- Uncle Dave Macon, musician ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Edmund Castillo++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Red Maple / Silver Maple What's the Difference? | Gardening | |||
[IBC] A beginner question about maple | Bonsai | |||
[IBC] BEGINNER: Maple Trident and dormancy & Trunk question | Bonsai | |||
[IBC] BEGINNER: Maple Trident and dormancy | Bonsai | |||
BEGINNER: Maple Trident and dormancy | Bonsai |