It sounds like you are on your way to making some class A bonsai, Rips,
One of our Midori Bonsai Club Members Doug Philips is doing some similar work with larger trees. 100-200 seedlings are wrapped around a core of redwood, cypress or juniper and stapled in place. This first picture is from February 2000. This is only 3-4 year old tree, if you can believe it!
the same tree a bit later with the tree relocated to the ground. BTW this is Kathy, my wife (Kathy is on the right)
Regards,
Matt
pix courtesy (c)TreeBay.com 2000