• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Bonsai Tonight

An educational website about bonsai development

  • Blog
    • How-to Guides
  • Podcast
  • Shop
    • Bonsai
    • Books
    • Soil
    • Soil (wholesale)
    • Supplies
    • Tools
    • Video Consulting
    • Northern California Bonsai Resources
  • About
    • Workshops

Fall cutback on a root over rock trident maple

October 29, 2021 by Jonas Dupuich

When most of the leaves on deciduous trees have turned color or fallen away, it’s time for fall cutback.

Trident maple in fall

Trident maple ready for cutback

I start by removing the leaves so I can see the branch structure clearly.

After removing the leaves

After removing the leaves

As you can see, the branch density is good but the branch structure is poor. To improve the branches, I pruned to:

  • Shorten shoots that were longer than 1/4″
  • Remove downward growing branches
  • Thin crowded areas
  • Improve the silhouette
Root over rock trident maple bonsai

After cutback – 12″

Right side

Right side

Back

Back

Left side

Left side

Although the result is less dense, it’s easier to follow the line of the individual branches from trunk to branch tip. By repeating the process over the coming years, I hope to increase branch density while refining the directions in which the branches grow.

Soil Update

I recently received a small shipment of akadama. More is on the way, but I don’t know when it will arrive due to current shipping conditions. While supplies last, you can order akadama on the Bonsai Tonight Online Store.

Subscribe to Bonsai Tonight

New Posts Delivered Every Tuesday and Friday

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by Kit

Filed Under: Bonsai Development Tagged With: Trident Maple

Previous Post: « Yamato Bonsai Kai’s 50th exhibition
Next Post: Wiring a Ponderosa pine »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tom Tynan says

    October 29, 2021 at 7:23 pm

    Jonas…Interesting to see this tree develop. One thing we don’t see often is how does the stone bear on the root mass? or does it sit on some small blocks of wood that support the stone ? What would happen if you had a larger stone that had some real weight; any concerns what the stone might do to the root mass below (ie. weight) or to the actual pot itself. In my example; lets say a stone maybe twice the length of your stone……regards again from NY…..Tom

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      October 29, 2021 at 10:20 pm

      In general, you treat the stone as if it’s part of the trunk. Once the roots have fused onto the rock, the process is the same as it would be for a massive trunk. If the roots are strong and the tree is balanced, there’s no need for additional support beneath the stone. If the composition is tipy, some engineering, possibly a block below the stone and strong wires can be used to keep the tree in the pot.

  2. Dawn says

    October 29, 2021 at 7:50 pm

    Jonas,
    Where do the lowest branches (that are from behind the rock on either side) come from ?

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      October 30, 2021 at 5:16 pm

      Hi Dawn – I just posted pics of the other sides.

  3. Michael Roberts says

    October 30, 2021 at 9:11 am

    I think this is a very nice tree Jonas. Thanks for sharing.
    I actually have the same question as Dawn… could you show us photos of both sides and the back. That would help. Thanks

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      October 30, 2021 at 5:18 pm

      Thanks, Michael! I just uploaded photos of the other sides which give a better idea of where the branching comes from.

  4. Alan Yirrell says

    October 30, 2021 at 1:31 pm

    This resembles my dilemia on my bonsai so this article was very timely

  5. Jake says

    October 30, 2021 at 2:33 pm

    Hi Jonas, How many years did it take you to develop this tree or is it something that was well along in its development before you acquired it?
    Jake

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      October 30, 2021 at 5:17 pm

      Hi Jake! I acquired this tree twenty years ago and it was already growing on the rock. I’d guess the tree is 35-45 years old.

  6. Tom says

    October 31, 2021 at 7:49 am

    Nice tree. Gotta say though, for me I think the “left” side would be a much more interesting front, though it would take a few years of branch reworking for sure.

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      November 1, 2021 at 5:36 pm

      Thanks, Tom! The main challenge we had with using the left side is that the stone is only 1-2″ wide from this side so we wouldn’t see much of the trunk.

  7. Adam says

    November 1, 2021 at 6:27 am

    Hi Jonas, great tree! Is fall cutback appropriate for deciduous trees in development, or is it for refined deciduous only? Similarly would you perform this every year?

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      November 1, 2021 at 5:38 pm

      Thanks, Adam! I typically do fall cutback on all deciduous trees. I prune all refined trees lightly in fall except for when they’re weak or they don’t need it. I prune all trees in earlier stages of development unless I pruned in late summer and they haven’t grown much or if I’m letting them run for a few years.

Footer

Follow Bonsai Tonight

Subscribe

Instagram ● Facebook ● Twitter
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • About

P.O. Box 6560, Alameda, CA 94501 · 510-915-2025 · jonas (at) bonsaitonight (dot) com

© Copyright 2009-2025 Bonsai Tonight · All rights reserved · Privacy · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can opt-out if you wish. Accept Decline Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT