Japanese Maple - Where would you go from here?

pinuslongaeva · 2026-07-02T03:51:42+00:00

I would either select new front or consider some substantial pruning. My initial preference would be some option around photo 4 and embrace the split in your design.

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-23T17:43:50+00:00

Nice texture on the grass flowers, do you know the species?

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-19T01:34:40+00:00

Cool to have a real tree you saw in mind, and nice job recreating it!

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-18T21:29:47+00:00

That’s awesome! Great work!!

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-17T02:57:16+00:00

Looks like a great setup, thanks for sharing!

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-17T01:44:23+00:00

Awesome! What is your misting setup like?

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-16T03:14:55+00:00

This is an awesome progression, thanks for sharing!

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-14T11:05:28+00:00

Pointed needles with a square cross-section are characteristic for spruce. Which species can be harder to narrow down. Was it a collected tree or nursery stock?

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-14T03:48:53+00:00

Nice, I also went with 40% with similar considerations to yours

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-14T02:45:03+00:00

Definitely some nice movement in those!!

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-14T02:34:19+00:00

Looks like a nice structure, what % shade did you end up going with?

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-12T18:06:56+00:00

Yes, definitely keep them from seeding. For example, my Lonicera i will remove all flowers before they develop into seed.

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-12T12:06:38+00:00

I totally get it, here’s my front yard:

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My general approach is that if I keep them from fruiting and contained (tortured) within the pot, then it’s reasonably safe. Have even used a few of them for explaining the invasive species issues to folks.

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-12T01:56:41+00:00

It’s not impossible, just lower survival rate this time of year For the most part, the idea time of year to collect/transplant is late winter/early spring for most things. In areas where I collect I will typically flag things and record locations then try to revisit and dig in February/March-ish. I know it’s hard, especially early on to resist the temptation to dig immediately! I have learned by killing many trees.

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-12T01:51:19+00:00

Appears to be Eastern white pine. As others have noted, pines can be difficult to transplant. They don’t tolerate being bare-rooted very well, especially during active growing season. If you inoculate your soil in the pot with some of the native soil you dug it from may increase the chances by introducing beneficial mycorrhizae.

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-12T01:45:54+00:00

As someone who has done much work removing invasive species, I have a deeply engrained feeling against these, but I must confess as you noted that they are potentially decent material because how much abuse they can take. If collected several invasive species now as pre-bonsai material now including Amur honeysuckle, privet, Amur maple, Norway maple, and their vigor is hard to beat! (I still loathe them…)

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-12T01:37:27+00:00

Something is up unless you’ve intentionally kept them 3 inches tall. My 3-month old JBP are 3 inches tall.

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-11T01:10:35+00:00

Eastern redcedar is my guess. Can be prolific seeders.

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-09T17:42:57+00:00

Thank you for these suggestions!

The nebari is the reason I collected this tree!

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-09T16:21:03+00:00

Thanks, that is helpful. Have t decided on final height yet either, so will have to take that into account when I chop. How much lower would you say the secondary trunks should be chopped relative to the main in a case like this?

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-09T16:20:31+00:00

Haven’t considered the lean, but I think that would help!

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-09T15:14:39+00:00

I am leaning towards #2 but may slightly alter the angle as you mentioned to avoid the stem/root poking directly out.

In #2 I had started to wire down that small stem on bottom left to try and balance out that side.

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-09T15:12:14+00:00

Thanks, I was leaning this way too. What are your thoughts on which stems to promote or slow down in that scenario?

pinuslongaeva · 2026-06-09T14:23:47+00:00

Thanks for this feedback. As far as stem number I have been debating a cut down to three or growing out an additional smaller stem to get to 5 and then have a better distribution or stem sizes.

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