CScott

Hi Bob,

Since you just bought the forest a few weeks ago and it is in leaf, I would not repot or do anything major until next spring. It needs to get used to your care regimen. The "chops" are pretty minor. If you think you are going to leave them this height you can wire up a new apex on each one so the trunks don't end so abruptly. Next spring you can plant the grove in a shallow wide pot appropriate for a grove. In the meantime look at lots of grove pictures. Your trees are tall with very little taper, but it can be pulled off with the right grouping, or you may want to chop them back even farther.

Why not post a picture of the singleton hornbeam in a new thread and see what the response it? I have no idea what to do for bonsai in a place like Chicago. I was born in Kankakee, IL, but left for California when only 10 years old.
I thank my parents for the move even now, 40+ years later.

Carmen