ripsgreentree

OzBoy:

If I may introduce myself, I am a field grower. All materials that I intend to be larger bonsai, 2 inches in diameter and up, are field grown. In my field, root pruning begins on seedlings and continues until a tree is potted into a bonsai container. There is nothing in bonsai more important than the foundation that you build the tree upon, so that means: learn how to control and direct roots.

Different materials will react differently in the ground: J- black pine will grow for three years in my field without being disturbed, and when they are dug up, soil removed, and root pruned, they will have excellent fibrous roots with nothing bigger than a pencil. This is mainly due to soil amendments and a constant regime of candle cutting.

Tridents, Zelkova and celtis will be dug up, soil removed and root pruned every two years. The roots will be very unruly and require drastic pruning to bring them back into shape. In that two years' time the top will constantly be hedge-cut for shape. Each time that these trees are dug up they are cut back to the trunk line and allowed to rebud out. This process is continued until the roots, nebari and trunk have reached the desired thickness, taper, and height.

I have way too many trees in the field, and each gets personal attention. When a person is dealing with the structure of your roots, why would you leave them to a chance shovel cut? I have read articles by the Japanese masters who say that the value of a tree with perfect rootage is worth as much as four times that of an equal tree with bad roots. This may or may not be correct, but for me I will work for the best roots that I can create. This means that I will give every tree personal attention.

I can say this with certainty: if you plant trees out in the ground you will be pleased with the growth that you get in a single season, much less two to ten years.

When you plant trees into the ground cut often because you don't want your trees to bolt and get away from you. I have seen a celtis grow eight feet in a single season and require a two-inch cut to reduce the top of the tree. This makes for bad bonsai. After everything is said, have fun and learn from everything that you do.........ripsgreentree

__________________
ripsgreentree

It requires an open hand to give and to recieve.

Advertisement