I tried a few air layers last year, but I feel I was to late in the season and was not patient enough so they were unsuccessful. I'm resolved to be more patient this year and did my research and tried a layer in a nice big mature Japanese maple. I made the appropriate cuts and took some of the foliage off of the branches that are being layered.

The question I have is, is new growth a problem or indication I have not done things correctly? I'm starting to get new leaves and growth where the tree had been cut. Not where the layering is supposed to take place, but where branches had been removed further up.

Please let me know. Thanks

Why did you remove leaves above the cuts? The whole idea is to have lots of foliage & growth above the cuts so that roots start forming. Having growth does not tell you anything re.the success.