If you want a single stem tree get rid of the weak one. All the thicker stem to become your single trunk and let it grow up. At the top of the thick shoot, rub off one of the two buds across from each other to encourage one-only to grow from that starting point up.

There's a good place to start...in my opinion.

What you do not do is bury the tree below the 'root collar' it's called. Heck you may have planted it too deep already. When you do that, trees die. You don't want to strip any bark off - none of that stuff.

If you look carefully at the trunk, there will be a color transition from the roots to the trunk. Where that line stops and the trunk is a deeper color - don't put the tree below that line. Keep that at soil level or just slightly above so it settles to that root collar 'line'.

Does this help I hope?

Dax

What variety is that anyway?

It is definitely salvageable. You can turn the best looking shoot into a single leader over time. But I would consider sending it back. That is just a hack job. If you have to keep it, maybe hold off on trimming until the tree is established in the ground. Tiny JM saplings can be a little iffy for the couple years so you don't want to weaken it any further for now. Depends on where you are.

Will say that I used to buy small ones like this and they are hit or miss. Spent more on some 7-gallon plants from Davidsan's this year and it is entirely worth the extra $$ IMO, if you can scrape together the cash.

It's an ACER atropurpureum

do you think even though it's been topped that a side shoot will eventually merge to create a straight trunk or will there be always a slight bend in trunk?

If you can recommend a better variety which I can get in the Uk from somewhere that sells decent small whips as I like the idea of growing from small myself

Post this on the Maples forum. We have a couple of regulars there that live in the UK and can very likely make some good suggestions for you for locating small trees. Be sure to include in your post heading that you are in the UK.........that's kinda important :-))

As Dax mentioned, the thick stem has a couple nice buds at the top. Let one grow out and train it vertically with a bamboo stick or similar.

Afraid t'is I, Ms.Opinionated...first of all, it is an acer palmatum atropurpureum. Without pouring any scorn upon a perfectly decent innocent tree, EVERY single purveyor of plants, from the dodgiest Ebay charlatan to the most refined and specialist nursery, including all the usual mail order behemoths such as T&M, Parkers etc as well, sells them. Everyone. Including Asda. Consequently, there are going to be a bazillion 'hack jobs' (as hamburglarf succintly states).

I don't grow them myself - far too mimsy for me (apart from a rather good coral bark Sango Kaku)...but it is my absolute understanding amongst JM afficionados that you either know exactly how to prune and shape...or you use a specialist nursery of good repute.

Personally, I don't see this little sapling as a fail - it is entirely small enough to be rescued...unless you are specifically requiring one of those weird long trunked topworked things with a completely straight trunk , gnarly trunks are absolutely to be expected. At any stage in its life, the trunk can be extended by raising the crown and if you have 10 years, then simply repot this and sit it out for season or so (in a better soil mix than will have been used by the vendors).

So it's safe to put it outside now even with how small it is? Also what soil mix do you recommend for these trees? Thanks :)

Much better. You did a very good pruning job. Leaving those side branchlets with leaves will nourish it in advancing the buds above. You couldn't have done a better job.

A lightweight potting mix is what you want. One consisting primarily of peat moss (bagged commercial mix).

Dax

the nursery has decided to top the tree 2cm above soil level

===>> if this is a grafted plant.. that was where the grafter ... removed the top of the root stock ...

last pic just above.. brilliant work ...

the media is all wrong for a tree ... and being a tree.. it need to be outdoors .. since recently potted.. harden it off properly ... as to temps and sunlight ... and frankly.. in that tiny pot.. i would never put it in sun ... but then you peeps in GB dont really know what full hot sun is.. lol ... i would defer on the sun part to one of your native local friends ...

if you are going to keep it potted... get a better potting media ... and ALWAYS.. let a tree NEARLY dry in between waterings.. its imperative ... do not water them like houseplants.. nor annuals.. nor perennials ...

kdn

The media I'm using isn't good? Which do you recommend?

oh.. AND LASTLY ... its a tree .. its been through enough from you ... in the few hours you have owned it ..... dont do much more with it for about 3 years ... just leave it alone ...it can live 25 to 50 years ... stop being in a hurry.. especially with a tree ... go zen on it... [but do perfect the media and watering] ...

ken

I've tried a few different soil mixes but I've been having issues with brown leaves probably from over watering this April -we have a rainy period innapril here.

i can't seem to find a good draining mix

It will be staying in fabric pots for now until I can determine where to put it. Could be a year or so

I just bought some john innes no.3 compost but I think this won't even drain aswell as I need. No clue what to do for this

Plant it in the ground in afternoon shade and walk away. Monitor it's water needs by ken's knuckle method. It won't need much with the limited leaf surface it currently has. It can always be easily transplanted for the next few years if you can't decide on a permanent location in the meantime. Try not to love it to death.

Oh, just because it's small doesn't mean it has to be coddled indoors. It will do much better outdoors this time of year and from here on out. Japanese maples are not houseplants.

Sean - don't expend too much effort and energy on this tree. Just stick it out side and forget it unless we have a drought (ha ha). As Campanula says you can buy them anywhere - even Morrisons. I am wondering why you are buying trees when your ground is not ready or planned yet. If it was something rare you might not see again for ages, OK, but it isn't worth getting common stuff and having to keep it alive while you get organised.

I'm buying them now to give them a head start. Thought that would be the best option haha. I do realise now that the soil I have is retaining a lot of water though

This is my general purpose potting mix - 2/5 John Innes 3, 1/5 Jack's Magic compost mix from Westland, This lightens up the JI and provides a bit of a peat hit) 1/5 leafmould or sieved compost (water holding and structural and 1/5 flint chicken grit or, if weight is an issue, perlite. I mix the proportions around accordingly but have failed to go completely peat-free for long term potting. Also, depending on time of year, leafmould might be in short supply but a nicely rotted down compost will do.

If no compost or leafmould available, then John Innes 3, Jack's Magic (or Levingtons or New Horizon) and grit or perlite - 1/2 JI, 1/4 compost, 1/4 grit. Drainage, yet moisture holding is the necessary balance. John Innes alone will become compacted and have aeration issues.

Outdoors I try to let things go sorta free range as quicklybas possible. I do have some wildlife in my not so suburban yard so that must be taken into account.

With this smaller fellow I would plant it, mulch it, put up a small green chicken wire type fence to keep rabbits and my weed eater away.

In my yard I expect to water after about 3 days w/o rain. This fella would probably get a gallon of H2O on the mulch.

It's planted outside for now in a bit of a mix between johnninnes a a good portion of basic gravel and some bark chippings best I've got for now until I get some more perlite.

remove the dead stub and the small weaker branch and let the larger one grow as the new leader, this is what I do to butchered crape myrtles