Learning Experience-something you might not want to do.

[Dan92119]

I have dabbled in bonsai on and off for a very long time. I have always liked elms but never actually grew any in the ground. End of 2016 I had some successful air layers from Chinese elms. My first successful air layers ever! Woohoo! They were as big around as a pencil.
In January 2017 I planted then in the ground. I put a few in separate one gallon pots and two in four inch pots. Remember I have never grown elms in the ground before. I used half strength Miracle grow about every 2-3 weeks. They grew a lot, some up to 1.5 inches across, 8-10 foot tall. I put them in the pots because I have read that the roots will grow out the holes in the bottom of the pot. You cut the roots outside of the pot and everything is supposed to look really nice.
Not so much. Yesterday I dug them up. First thing I had put them way too close together, maybe 8inches apart. Getting them out was terrible. Some roots circled the pots. Most of the roots just Destroyed the pots! I had roots bigger than the trunk of the tree, they were huge! I have one tree that might have salvageable roots. The rest, if they survive will have to be ground layered next year. They are in three gallon pots now in partial sun (not in the ground). I had no expectations that the trees would grow like they did.
There are no pictures! (to protect the innocent! LOL) Just wanted to share my experience. I have read some threads where people want to put the tree in a pond basket and then plant in the ground. I would not recommend it at all!
Elms seem to be able to take a beating, we will see!

 

[leatherback]

I have read some threads where people want to put the tree in a pond basket and then plant in the ground. I would not recommend it at all!

Yeah, I never understood the whole pond baskets i nthe ground. Out in the open, above the ground I get it. But in the ground. Nah. Indeed. Roots explode in the ground, and would/should ruin the pond basket.

Good to hear your trees did so well! Elms are supposed to take excessive rootwork. Maybe you can just trim the roots fiarly close, replant over a tile and then let it grow for a year again? I tried it this year with a zelkova that grew explosively, and had some overgrown roots that I did not like too.

 

[Anthony]

Leatherback,

we use cheap plastic colanders. Smash away.

Dan,

did you save the roots for new plants ?
Often the roots have more personality.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[bonsaidave]

Sounds like you could have taken interesting root cuttings!

 

[Dan92119]

Yeah, I never understood the whole pond baskets i nthe ground. Out in the open, above the ground I get it. But in the ground. Nah. Indeed. Roots explode in the ground, and would/should ruin the pond basket.

Good to hear your trees did so well! Elms are supposed to take excessive rootwork. Maybe you can just trim the roots fiarly close, replant over a tile and then let it grow for a year again? I tried it this year with a zelkova that grew explosively, and had some overgrown roots that I did not like too.

Those roots look good. Mine aren’t even close to that. To put on a tile I will have to cut the bottom of the tree flat over several years. Might just be quicker to ground layer. Hehe all a learning experience. Maybe I will try both ways on separate trees.

 

[Dan92119]

I may try root cuttings. I have had some success with them in the past.

 

[hemmy]

The nursery guys seem to like the root constricting bags, but the roots will still swell on both sides of the bag in the ground. I think there is no substitute for working the roots flat in a container and setting that good nebari before planting out. Even then the roots will still have to be worked every few or couple of years or every year depending on the species and growth. Here’s some screen grabs of a Rootmaker bag. The idea here being you’ve already created a good rootmass with air pruning prior to the ground and the bag just keeps a compact rootmass while allowing some to run for thickening. But this technique just helps survivability for landscape transplants. I’m not sure it helps us get into a bonsai container quicker. But I do love air pruning to get that good root mass!

 

[River's Edge]

I think it is important to know the strengths and weaknesses of each approach you try. Those who reccomend using pond baskets and colandars understand the need to keep an eye on escaping roots. I have used colandars and pond baskets in grow beds very effectively. It does require trimming the coarse escaping roots during the process. The frequency depends on the species and growing conditions. Obviously not great for elms if left for a full year. Picture included, to show it is based on successful practise not just my opinion. The pines in the picture are now four years and i inch diameter trunks. The colandars were lifted and the roots escaping trimmed in the middle and beginning of each growing season. And this situation requires that they all be moved to larger quarters this year. Deep Propogation Anderson flats or purpose built grow boxes.That is to allow the sun to get into the lower branches and the trees to be rotated. Left in crowded conditions the lower trunks and branches would not develop properly. I am using the same process for Pine, Trident, Zelkova, and other Japanese maples.