Trident Maple

Trident Maple
Some of the most popular bonsai come from the maples, from the graceful, Japanese mountain maples, Acer palmatum, to the, often, chunky trident maple, Acer Buergerianum.

The trident is a popular small maple from the far east, with a strong, upright growth pattern that is resistant to polution, and admirably suited to its use as a street tree.

In the ground, it likes full sun with a deep root run, and is fully hardy; however, in a bonsai container, it is easily scorched in full sun during the hottest months, so a display area that gets morning and evening sun only is best.  During heavy frost, its fine feeder roots are easily damaged so winter protection is advised where teperatures drop to, say, -5c or lower.  Of course, this doesn't mean molly-coddling, under the bonsai bench with a clear plastic sheet in front is adequate, as is the floor of an unheated greenhouse, or under a cloche, as a deciduous tree, it needs its period of dormancy.

Water daily during the growing season, just keeping the compost evenly moist; keep fairly dry during winter to avoid frost damage to the roots.  Feed once per week with a high nitrogen feed from early April until june then swap to a tomato type feed.  Never over feed, and never feed if the tree looks sickly.

Inspect the roots in early spring each year, if they are root bound, it's time to repot, trim about a third of the root and repot, with fresh compost, into the same container, water in well then lay off watering until the compost feels dryish.  No feed for one month after root disturbance and pruning, and only then if the tree is pushing out  new growth.

Allow new growth to extend to about 5-6 pairs of leaves, then clip back to one or two pairs, this is not a mechanical process, you are looking for buds that will grow in the direction you want, this, with wiring, gives a natural look to your tree.

Trident maple is easy to propagate, sow seeds in late autumn and leave outside with some sort of netting to protect from birds, and rodents.  Softwood cuttings can be struck in midsummer, and large, hardwood cuttings are possible during the late autumn/winter.

Happy growing.

Writelink ... many writers ... one community - Do digital cameras take photographs

Writelink ... many writers ... one community - Do digital cameras take photographs

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Bonsai

Well, now the spring is upon us, it's time to get down to sorting out my bonsai. We've recently moved and I've moved a large garden of bonsai into a postage stamp, still, shouldn't moan about that, I've still probably got more than the inhabitants of Tokyo, and they manage.

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I've got about 80 Japanese Black Pine seedlings, I'll plant them out the front to develop, that will give me a bit more room in the back for the other trees.



I don't know why more people don't have a go at bonsai, it's relaxing, skilled, and a constantly evolving creative art form. I think that people believe it's difficult, or you have to get special trees, or that it takes a long time, none of that is true, a garden centre tree in a 1-litre pot can take as little as 3 years to have a fine display in a bonsai container.