bonsaichile
Omono
Wwork the roots before you work anything else. If you are putting it in the ground, working the roots first and then working them again every couple years is esential to obtain a decent nebari
Nursery elm find...
- Thread starter AaronThomas
- Start date
AaronThomas
Omono
Agreed... were well into our growing season this year. I'm nervous to do anything too drastic since the tree has really leafed out....
AaronThomas
Omono
Thanks Randy... another Mesquite Valley find.
bonsaichile
Omono
you can put it in the ground after some root work in early Fall too
I was wondering. Probably smart to back off root work for now. My cypress really popping right now. Thanks again for the tip. Next time I am down will take you out to lunch!
AaronThomas
Omono
To risky I suspect....
NICE!!!! I just chopped my leaders and are also popping nicely. I may or may not have snagged another one
They only have a few left and they look like crap... most are dead. Not big sellers out here.... shame.WOOT!!! Sound good!
AaronThomas
Omono
BHAHAHAHAHAH! Thats great... hope you made money!
M. Frary
Bonsai Godzilla
It's an elm for Christ's sake.
Chop the trunk and the roots at the same time.
No need to pussyfoot with these things.
Root grafts?
Air layer a straight trunk?
Foolishness both.
Whack the crap put of it.
Chop the trunk and the roots at the same time.
No need to pussyfoot with these things.
Root grafts?
Air layer a straight trunk?
Foolishness both.
Whack the crap put of it.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
I'd cut that high root and leave it.
Sorce
Sorce
Maloghurst
Chumono
Air layer now. Then roots and chop next year. Or leave it alone then roots and chop next year.
I know a lot of people say take 80% of the roots right off the bottom. I used to do this too but sometimes with extremely rootbound nursery trees the base could be halfway down the pot and you cut right through it. I’m much more careful now.
I know a lot of people say take 80% of the roots right off the bottom. I used to do this too but sometimes with extremely rootbound nursery trees the base could be halfway down the pot and you cut right through it. I’m much more careful now.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
but.. The base is visible at the soil line..?
Maloghurst
Chumono
Yes IME you could be left with 3 huge roots coming out from way above the base. That could be cut off in exchange for a lower more lateral root spread and wider base. Not always of course, but I recommend being more careful and taking about 40-50% then working your way up until you find the base that is best for the tree. Still could wind up at the 80%-90% mark but I do it in stages. Especially with extremely rootbound trees. Here at two examples from this year that had some very big roots visible at the soil line. The red line on the zelkova is about where the soil was when I started.
AaronThomas
Omono
Thanks everyone for your input... lots of great ideas.
LOL True!!! I agree... with you and Leatherback... its an elm and the they can take a beating. Just think I want to thicken up the base a bit.
Think I will do that... going to just slip the pot off and throw it in a tub of pumice for now.
Not sure there is much to layer as far as material goes. There is a ton of reverse taper in most of the trunk to branch junctions from the nursery ties...Look like they have been on the tree for years.
AaronThomas
Omono
Well crap... Looks like my decision was made for me. I cut the nursery pot away so I could throw the elm into some pumice. In checking out the roots I notice the bottom 1/3" of the root ball was mushy, black spaghetti. This thing not only was root bound but was rotting. So I did what any tree lover would do... and dropped some colorful expletives.
I was able to really clean out the gunk... interestingly enough the tap root was not rotting. I combed out as many of the fine roots as I could and washed out the dirt and muck. Think I did a pretty good job. I cut back probably 70% of what was in the pot... probably could have gone more but I chickened out.
Hoping the tree will at least be a bit healthier now with the funk cut out of it... Or it will die... time will tell.
I placed the tree in a fancy pot my wife instructed me to use because I'm not aloud to use Waste Management recycle bins anymore... something about making the yard look like crap. (she did not use the word crap)
If it makes it perhaps Ill chop in round two of our growing season... but I'd really like to thicken up the base a bit more.
Removing the soil has given me a better view of the base of the tree from both sides.... kinda liking what I'm seeing.
Anywhoo... the tree is now resting under the patio overhang.
I was able to really clean out the gunk... interestingly enough the tap root was not rotting. I combed out as many of the fine roots as I could and washed out the dirt and muck. Think I did a pretty good job. I cut back probably 70% of what was in the pot... probably could have gone more but I chickened out.
Hoping the tree will at least be a bit healthier now with the funk cut out of it... Or it will die... time will tell.
I placed the tree in a fancy pot my wife instructed me to use because I'm not aloud to use Waste Management recycle bins anymore... something about making the yard look like crap. (she did not use the word crap)
If it makes it perhaps Ill chop in round two of our growing season... but I'd really like to thicken up the base a bit more.
Removing the soil has given me a better view of the base of the tree from both sides.... kinda liking what I'm seeing.
Anywhoo... the tree is now resting under the patio overhang.
Maloghurst
Chumono
No go ahead and prune about 80-90% and your set!
MrWunderful
Omono
If anything the tree will be healthier with the repot even if you choose to ground layer/airlayer.
Im in the camp of airlayer as many straight sticks off it for brooms as you have patience for after ground layering if you want any sort of traditional base. Or enjoy the character of the twisting roots.
Im in the camp of airlayer as many straight sticks off it for brooms as you have patience for after ground layering if you want any sort of traditional base. Or enjoy the character of the twisting roots.
AaronThomas
Omono
That’s pretty crazy. Amazing how much was under the soul line.... not seeing anything like that with my tree.
Didn’t take that much but I nearly did....
Wanted to try to save as many healthy roots as I could at the same time reducing the root ball. Hoping the tree is healthy.
j evans
Omono
It's tough having such a good start with so many options. Nice fine and I"m sure it'll be great no matter which option you go with.
