Save the date! The second Pacific Bonsai Expo will be held on October 26-27, 2024. We’ll have more updates in upcoming posts so stayed tuned for more info!
As for the fall pruning, below is a trident maple showing the last bit of fall color.
Trident maple with fall color
After removing the leaves it’s easy to see how much the tree grew this year. It had been weak for a few years so I repotted it last year and let it grow freely. As a result, there are good shoots but no signs of the vigor I’d expect from a fully healthy trident maple.
New shoots
It’s also easy to see that the upper branches are way too big for the tree. To stimulate the pruduction of new shoots on the upper half of the tree, I removed all of the large upper branches. And instead of making clean cuts, I left stubs as new shoots might sprout from the base of these large branches. I left the tallest shoot on the tree alone to increase the sap flow in the area.
After pruning
To wrap up the fall work, I removed the top layer of soil and replaced it with fresh soil. This will help prevent the root ball from retaining too much moisture through winter.
After replacing the top layer of soil
I’ll check on the tree again in March and April to see if any buds have sprouted. In the meantime, I’ll leave the tree in full sun and water it when the soil begins to dry out.
If you’d like to see a video of this work, check out “Fall cutback on a trident maple.“
News & Updates
- If you didn’t see the notice above, the dates have been set for next year’s Pacific Bonsai Expo. The event will be held on October 26-27, 2024. More updates are on the way so stay tuned!
- I’m looking for readers who can provide feedback on a project I’m working on. If you’re up for some bonsai reading, send me a note and we can go from there.
- I’m still looking for relatively show-ready medium-sized trees so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you know of any trees that are looking for a new home.