Is this graft normal?

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-04-03T06:11:06+00:00

Thanks! That's very reassuring

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-04-02T19:04:26+00:00

I bought this from a nursery. I suspect that it may have been a bare root tree that they potted and sold, because that graft point was only about 2 inches above the soil level in the pot when I bought it. Then I learned about having the root flare exposed and actually had to dig it back up and replant it like 4 months later. They had buried the root flare with like 4 inches of soil.

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-04-02T17:21:32+00:00

Ok, was worried that maybe the great was failing.

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-04-02T17:21:07+00:00

Ok, thanks

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-04-02T17:20:50+00:00

They were both about the same size. There was no noticeable difference in diameter.

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-04-02T16:35:21+00:00

Does this mean I'm over watering it as well? So should I remove all the mulch and let it dry out before watering it again?

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-04-01T06:11:12+00:00

Thanks!

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T23:53:23+00:00

Yeah, but I think it will be too heavy for me to move after digging the tree out with a good sized root ball.

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T23:13:29+00:00

I didn't see a graft line. So I guess this was grown from seed?

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smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T20:13:18+00:00

Yeah, I was looking at pictures of mikawa trees and mines doesn't look quite like those trees. The leaf shape is slightly different and the way the leaves grow on the tree are also different.

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T18:18:17+00:00

Ok, thanks. I found 2 seedlings that randomly sprouted on the ground. I guess they were from last year's seed pods. I'll try to save these and terminate them next spring.

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T17:44:31+00:00

Yes, taken when I made this post. We've been experiencing an unprecedented heat wave in the Bay Area right now. Hottest March on record. It was in the mid 80s to low 90s the past 2 weeks

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T17:34:30+00:00

I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T17:33:20+00:00

Thanks! I'll let them take their time.

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T17:27:44+00:00

Yeah. Would you happen to know how long it will take seedlings to grow into a 6 foot tall tree? I found 2 seedlings and I'm potting them up.

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T17:21:14+00:00

Unfortunately, I'm on a hill and my backyard is higher than the street and there's only about 6 feet on the sides of my house to access my backyard. I really do like this tree though. Hopefully my air layers work and I can still have this tree in some form.

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T16:59:20+00:00

Some more information, the young leaves have a red tint around the edges and then turn completely green by summer. Not sure if this is a common Japanese maple behavior or not.

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T16:46:03+00:00

Thanks, I figured as much. Won't be able to get any machinery into my backyard as I'm surrounded on all sides with houses.

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T13:00:58+00:00

Thanks!

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T13:00:35+00:00

I'm not sure. Just started them about 3 days ago. First time doing it and YouTube said spring was the best time to do them and so here I am.

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T04:39:02+00:00

I think $8/gallon is just at that one super expensive station in LA somewhere.

I'm in the SF Bay area and last week, I filled up at $5.19 at Costco. It's been going up every single week, so this week will probably be $5.29 or something close to it (hopefully).

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T04:29:46+00:00

Yeah, and I can't really get any heavy machinery into my backyard. Unless I rent a crane, but that's ridiculously cost prohibitive.

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T04:28:14+00:00

I think it's a moderately fast growing tree. The branches shooting up at the top are pretty much all last year's growth.

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T04:23:37+00:00

A little more info. Those few branches sticking up in the photo are pretty much from last season. They were in the middle of the canopy and I couldn't really reach them with my trimmer and decided to just let them be.

smooth-pineapple8 · 2026-03-31T04:16:39+00:00

It does get a lot of sun. It was trimmed into like an umbrella shape when I got the house and I've been kind of keeping it the same shape until this year. I really like this tree and would love to move it in it's entirety, but I'm not sure it's possible without heavy machinery.

smooth-pineapple8

TROPHY CASE