I picked up a 5 gallon Acer Palmatum from Costco for $45 as my first bonsai and I have a couple of questions about timing of chopping, planting in the ground and root work.

1. I'm pretty sure it's already too leafed out to chop for Spring (I'm in CA and it's already pretty warm) so should I plant it in the ground or leave it its pot until I can chop it?

2. Would you recommend the next time to chop it be during summer dormancy or wait until next spring?

3. If I do plant the tree in the ground now can I do any root work or should I wait to do that as well? (I know I should not do a big trunk chop and root work at the same time)

Thanks so much!

Whole tree


Trunk and truck chop plans


Inspiration tree

Very nice tree!

Thanks! I crawled around a pallet of the trees for about 20 minutes to find just the right one.

I see no reason why you could not trim it back now.
That being said, I would probably have a ball and airlayer those branches. Free trees anyone?

Now it the wrong time for rootwork. That should be done with the tree just coming out of dormancy.

leatherback wrote: I see no reason why you could not trim it back now.

To my understanding, doesn't trimming of maples in the spring cause to much bleeding out of the tree. Aren't you better off trimming in the late summer when heat allows for faster callusing of the wound.

No it does not.

leatherback wrote: No it does not.

i learned although the bleeding wont kill the tree it will make it weaker. risking any future problems that come to the tree it wont have energy to recover because the tree is already weak from losing sugars and water caused by the bleeding (trimming in spring).

I think Crent that that advice apples more in early spring as growth first pushes and a lot of sap is rising?.

At this point I believe its OK. I know bonsai mirai do a youtube video called spring fundamentals. He recommends pruning when the foliage on the tree becomes darker, sharper/harder and the cuticle has formed.

You might be able to identify this on your tree. The video is well worth a watch.

Andrew1185uk wrote: The video is well worth a watch.

its funny because thats were i got the info. i must have probably missed the part were he said trim once hardening occurs. it might be worth going back to re watch i guess.

I'll definitely check out that video.

For now I'll leave off on root work and chopping and give a go at air layering.

Thanks for the advice!