This time it’s a mame Trident Maple. I have a stump of maple that is far from attractive. I opted to layer off the little apex.
Tag Archives: air layering
Rescue Maple Air Layer
After spending the last few years getting this maple back to health, it was time to make a decision about the rotting wood at the base and slight inverse taper. The tree has obviously had a hard life and large areas of the trunk have died back. After consideration I am opting to try an air layer.
I marked out the best spot for stripping the bark. Not easy as the deadwood always breaks the circumference of the trunk at some point.
Sharp tools at the ready and some Sphagnum Moss at hand.
Strip removed and a clean upper edge created. Lots of evidence of a hard life in the heartwood of this tree.
Instead of doing the usual air layer with cling film I opted to use a flower pot as it can sit at the base of the tree. Pot sliced and a portion removed to allow the trunk to fit through the bottom.
Taped up and ready for the moss.
Filled with moss and cling filmed over the top to help retain moisture.
Here we go. Update in the Autumn.
Cork Bark Elm Layer
I potted up my Elm air layer a few days back. This was layered back in MAY 2011
Not into a nice shallow pot to help flair out the roots. A little directional wiring done and it’s mostly clip and grow from here.
Hawthorn Layer Potting On
I have just repotted my Hawthorn Air layer for the first time. The full story up until now can be read and seen HERE.
It was originally layered back in 2010 and it was now time to repot to enable me to removed the sphagnum moss that had been left intact so that the new roots wouldn’t be disturbed.
Before repot.
Plenty of root to work with
Buds swelling fast, a good time to repot.
Removal of the old stump below the layer point
Getting rid of the old sphagnum moss that will hold way too much water and will cause problems in the roots if left.
Potted up. It will get a full year and then some styling decisions will be made next year.
Another angle to show movement.
Parent and Layer Update
An update on the parent plant and the layer I took on a Cork Bark Chinese Elm in 2011.
This is the parent now achieved from a stump in a year. A few bits need to be cut back to balance out the growth but not bad for a year. Might even get a suitable instead of this Sh1te one 
This was it in September 2011
And this is the layer a year on.
Ivy Air Layer
I decided yesterday to check on the air layer done earlier in the year on an Ivy. THIS is the previous post about it.
I’ve had to trim back the foliage a few times since the layer was added in May. This was it as I started yesterday.
On removing the black cover and cling film I was happy with the results.
I think this will make a rather nice little shohin. I potted it into a slightly larger pot than required. Nothing suitable on the shelf. Also potted at the wrong angle to ensure that the new roots are sufficiently covered. If the roots are coming out of the bottom in the Spring I might repot properly then. In the mean time it will go back in the poly tunnel to add a little time to the growing season to encourage more root.
Elm Stump
I air layered the top off this cork bark elm back in May 2011 and it was removed in August 2011.
This is what I wanted to do with the stump.
This is the new buds appearing in September 2011
This is what it looks like now in just under a year.
And after another trim.
Ivy Air layer
I finally got around to layering a little ivy I collected last year from a beach. A bit late but should be fine with this species.
As you can see, the trunk has major issues as it sits, inverse taper and lack of interest.
This part of the tree has loads of interest and was worth layering.
Layer in progress.
Sphagnum moss and cling film
Finished off with black pond liner to help attract heat and encourage rooting.
As usual I’ll keep you posted right here.
Cotoneaster Air Layer Roots
I lifted this little air layer up to check on its progress. I was delighted to see that it appears to be growing strongly.
This is the parent plant after a trim. This year will see the apex filling out to replace the removed layer.
Oak Air Layer Removal
I layered this oak last year and decided to leave it in place over the Winter. All the other layers last year had produced enough root to allow for an Autumn removal. This oak however was lacking in roots at that stage. Some where visible but not enough in my opinion.
Today I removed the cover and was happy with what I saw. The layer was budding very strongly and the roots in the moss were moving again as white tips were showing.
This was my first layer on an oak and was more about gaining knowledge than producing a great tree. Both the parent tree and the layer are nothing special but at least I know it’s worth giving oak a go in the future.
