It was so tough to get it it the trunk of the minivan, but I did manage to maneuver it in with assistance from the guy at the nursery. It was absolutely glorious looking! I got it home, and told my husband we had to be very careful removing it. Well, he moved far to quickly, and broke the top off completely. It was such a larch umbrella shape and I'm so upset. It totally made the tree. My question is, it broke at somewhat of an intersection of several other branches. Will they survive? Is there anything I have to do? Is it possible that a new branch will start growing! I'm happy to take and send pictures for anyone that can help. Thanks so much!
If part of the top above the graft is still present tree will attempt to grow a new top. If instead all of the portion that grew from what was grafted onto the rootstock has been lost then all you now have is the rootstock, which is not likely to be a lace-leaf cultivar.
I read somewhere that I could graft it and have attempted that. I reattached it as precisely as possible and used electrical tape to secure it. Fingers crossed!
Ow! Did you lose much height from the tree? The reattachment of the top might work but it is a very long shot. The sooner it was done after the break the better the chances of success. You will soon know if it worked. If not the top will fill back in naturally over time so the umbrella shape will return eventually. These maples tend to naturally form a mound shape, so any increase in height will be slow and gradual, if the tree is left to its own devices. If you wish to increase the height more quickly stake the tree with a stout bamboo cane and tie up a side-shoot from the top of the plant and keep re-tying as it grows taller until the desired height is reached. Might take a couple of years. (This is how they would have trained the plant at the nursery when it was younger.) Another option might be the small branch at the top of the plant; if it is flexible it might be possible to stake that one upright instead of waiting for new shoots to grow.
I had a beautiful Tiger Rose and a tree branch did the same thing. It looked so bad, I almost decided just to compost it. Luckily I didn't and it is looking pretty good. I am constantly amazed at the resilience of the maples. Hopefully, you have learned from this experience: Tree branches and non-gardening people should not touch plants. It always ends badly:)
