Preparing for Collection [Question/Advice]

[JoeR]

So yesterday I had found a stump of one of the native shrubs that grow here. Because of where I live, I am always cutting back the new growth, leaving tons of stumps like this one. However, this one was especially suited for bonsai because it has a thick trunk with movement and very large exposed roots and a little bit of growth from whenever it was chopped. But, when I took a closer look at it, i noticed something. I could stick my fingers under the entire stump, it had no vertical roots and was 100% exposed! It only has about five large, completely horizontal roots that dont actually go into the soil untill about a 6"-12" from the trunk, meaning no close feeder roots, and no chance of collecting it. I really wanted this tree to survive! Knowing that if I tried to dig it up it would die, and if I left it alone it may get run over, I dug a very shallow trench around half of the tree, just deep enough to sever the few very large roots. I put root hormone in, stuffed a little bit of sphagnum moss in and put a little wooden frame around it so no one would drive on it, and filled the frame with rooting hormone, sphagnum moss, and potting soil. I used reguar potting soil and moss because they both retain moisture really well and the potting mix is packed full of nutrients. Was this the right thing to do to form a good compact root ball? Any advice or things I did wrong or could have done better? Help is always greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Joe

 

[Mac In Oak Ridge]

Knowing what kind of tree you are talking about might help you get better answers.

 

[sorce]

I think you did well. Considering I was thinking of soing the same thing before getting down to reading it.

Maybe wound the sides of the exposed roots and get some Sphagnum there so your roots don't grow down.

Should work though.

Pics and species?

Sorce

 

[JoeR]

I am unsure about the species, I have searched everywhere on the internet and still havent found it. Some of the trunk is underground, but you can at least see what it is. The picture honestly doesnt do it justice. It has great roots to work with (except for two oddly high roots) and a nice trunk with a unique detail, Im sure you guys can guess what it is. Not really sure about the left branch, it is dead and has to be a jin or removed but I dont see a jin matching the tree and dont see cutting it off really either. Second pic is busy, sorry, but it was before I cleaned the area up. Hopefully you can still see the roots and trunk.

 

[JoeR]

Im considering covering the root box in either plastic wrap or tinfoil to retain even more moisture. Yes? Or can the roots not breath in it?

 

[Judge]

Could you?

 

[sorce]

Depends how often you can water it I reckon.

Could be more harm than good. ?

Sorce

 

[Poink88]

Could this be ligustrum/privet? If it is, it should collect easily.

Good luck!