Apr 27 2013

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.

Apr 23 2013

Maple Two Weeks On

Just a quick update on my maple after a repot. This is it before the repot.

and this is it now.

I spent about 30 minutes after this photo going over the tree pinching out the growing tips. It even flowered this year for the first time!

Apr 23 2013

Comeback Trail

My Chuhin Maple is now well on the way to making a comeback after the insect attack that saw me lose several branches mainly at the apex. I I siad it would take 5 years to resemble something approaching it’s former quality. That’s one year down, four to go!

Apr 5 2013

Maple Repot

This is a maple that I’ve had for a number of years but it’s had some major health problems. Originally from Japan, when it came into the UK it had weak branches and over the years it’s been problematic. Things seem to have settled down now. Here and a few other posts relating to it.

This is it in it’s training pot.

Stephen came down to help me repot as I had a few large ones to man handle about the place. Two people is the way to go when potting bigger trees.

The ribbed sides seem to really help with the roots!

After the initial combing out and trimming.

After a wash out

Trying the pot for size.

Pinning the tie in wire back from the nebari to stop any damage. By placing a heavy wire in at a 45 degree angle this will stop the tie wire slipping up the root mass.

The tree after potting.

A few branch adjustments required but this is starting to create some reasonable ramification at last.

Apr 4 2013

Spring – Maples

Mar 23 2013

Spring – Trident

My other Trident a little bit behind the root over rock but starting to move nicely.

Mar 22 2013

Spring – Root Over Rock Trident

My Trident on Rock seems to be further ahead than most of my other maples. I just love this time of year, the next month will see new fresh growth appearing everywhere.

Mar 14 2013

Ian B’s Kyiohime Maple Repot

This is Ian B’s little shohin Kyiohime maple after a repot. It was in dire need of repotting and the roots proved problematic. The pot Ian had purchased for this proved to be too risky to achieve in one step. This was my fault, not his, as I had picked the pot. It is now in this nice little blue one, a Lark Lane pot if anyone remembers them. I have a real soft spot for them.

Mar 6 2013

Ben’s Maple Repot

After we potted up the collected trees last weekend, I gave Ben a hand repotting his Maple. The pot didn’t really do anything for the tree and Peter Snart had suggested removing a branch to the right side that was always going to look plain ugly. It looks ok in the photo, but trust me, it had to go! It’s not a typical maple, with a hollow trunk and the variety is known to produce a larger leaf. That said, Ben has done a great job of reducing the leaf size and also the inter-nodal length.

The old look