In December an 80ish year old red oak fell into our yard and landed directly on our japanese maple. This is what it looks like now.
What are the chances it recovers? A few little buds poking through and this one lone survivor of a branch. We're trying to figure out if we should remove it or let it be. Almost comical how the oak falling took off almost all of the branches but left the trunk perfectly fine.
Thanks!
by TheOKKid
6 Comments
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It seems really established and it’s pushing out leaves. I’d give it a chance, it could end up looking really unique.
Survive, probably, but it will likely remain permanently lopsided or disfigured.
Unless you want a conversation piece, I would remove it and plant a new tree.
Personally I hate removing trees, and part of me would want to “give it a chance”, but Japanese maples are planted for both their shape and colour as “living sculptures”, and yours is, unfortunately, very badly damaged.
Yeah, it’s going to make it. Japanese Maples are remarkably resilient.
And until it grows out again, you’ve got a pretty cool bonsai tree.
If you mess up a tree once, it’s a mistake. If you do it repeatedly, it’s a bonsai.
You don’t need to worry about it. The tree will be fine, just might need a little shaping maintenance for the next few years.
This tree will probably have a really unique/cool structure after it’s recovered.
Yes, next year it will produce loads of new shoots.