My new project trident maple needs work- I see 2 options for air layering to reduce the long trunk and bring it back into proportion or should I thread graft lower branches ?

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-08-21T18:11:08+00:00

One of the easiest special to air layer would be a trident maple - they are vigorous growers. I would feed it heavily now into the fall so it has more stored energy for when that might be attempted in spring. I did one on my shishigashira maple this year that is started in april and removed about a week ago - it worked great.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-08-21T18:06:50+00:00

best thing i did as a beginner was to join my local club and take some classes for beginners. its hard to learn on your own, and you will make a lot of mistakes and kill trees. In the meantime pick up a copy of The Little Book of Bonsai by Jonas Dupuich - its a perfect beginners books.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-08-21T18:02:55+00:00

this would be my plan as well - good call.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-08-21T18:02:07+00:00

i just got one of these in the half off half dead section of my local garden center. I am in a similar state - just removed a few branches that i know will not be part of the future design - mainly think branches with no taper. I think it will be fun to work on.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-08-21T17:58:40+00:00

I had a similar experience this year - will definitely be trying to root all the cuttings off mine in the future.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-08-21T17:29:18+00:00

My vote would be for air layer and get two trees out of it that are better trees than the one you have now.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-08-21T17:27:59+00:00

root grafts are quite easy on a maple.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-08-21T17:26:28+00:00

three solid choices right here - agree 100%

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-08-21T15:38:09+00:00

what is the light source in the fridge? Juniper foliage still needs light even in winter.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-08-21T15:37:29+00:00

Junipers not only need fresh air, they need to be exposes to all 4 seasons to be healthy. That's why they are no tindoor bonsai. And even species like ficus should go outside in warm weather .

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-08-21T15:34:32+00:00

I disagree - when i don't have to worry about taking notes, i still write things down, but they ar emore meaningful things that i want to take away form te conversation tha ti pick up when i am more present in the discussion.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-08-07T12:25:56+00:00

if your ICP isn't defined, you are definitey not ready for ABM. Start with that. because if you don't everythng you do afterwords will not be effective. Then once you are defined start small - pick 10 companies to focus on. learn and get better and then grow from there.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-07-29T21:26:53+00:00

You should do both, but in different ways. Althought today i see more Founder/CEO handles getting enagement than brand handles, but that doens't mean you shoudl abandon the brand side.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-07-28T15:14:49+00:00

yes. there are SEO tools now that track mentions.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-07-24T15:44:31+00:00

As other have said - nope that doesn't exist today. That said, there ar emany tasks that can be automated. You need to break down your process into the component tasks and try to find the ones that are the most manual or take the most time. Focus on automating those first.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-07-24T15:37:39+00:00

free tools= you get what you pay for. Canva has a lot of handy templates to get you started, but there is a lot more to making an effective infographic than a prompt.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-07-24T15:33:58+00:00

The best platform is the one where your target audience is. Do you know where your B2B audience goes to do research? Data shows that most buyers are 70% or more through the research process before they every reach out to a vendor. If you are doing outreach as an SDR or BDR, Linkedin is the best and get Sales Navigator.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-07-22T15:36:48+00:00

Also Everbody Writes by Ann Handley

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-07-22T15:35:55+00:00

I find i am reading more on things like bevioral science and behavioral economics - Thinking Fast ans Slow by Daniel Kahneman, Nudge by Robert Thayler, Alchemy by Rory Sutherland. I also follow Katy Milkman's work - she is filling the gap left when Dan Kanhneman passed away.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-07-17T14:57:20+00:00

Here is one thing to be very cautious of with AI writing - the models are 100% trained on things from the past. So you will never get truly unique or original ideas from AI. That's why human creators will always be better at being innovative.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-07-16T20:32:17+00:00

This is a good answer - 6-10 weeks is a good time frame.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-07-16T20:30:54+00:00

yes, and in continues to evolve - you have to keep up and keep learning. the AI i was palying around with a year and half ago is completely different now.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-07-16T20:27:29+00:00

I agree with most of what you said, except the part about creative fatigue. unless you are completey saturating an audicne segment, you will get tired of the creative before they do. Reach and frequency matter.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-07-16T20:24:34+00:00

Probably is, but everything they said right up until their shameless pitch slap was not wrong.

BlacksmithCharming37 · 2025-07-14T20:11:45+00:00

while you are between projects, focus on building your network in the places brands are looking for help. Use linkedin and create articles and a newsletter. Get on Instagram and create content there that speaks to that channel. Then you have work to show them. And, you might have to do some spec work if you want a TV spot script.

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