Using a root sickle (Repotting, techniques)

TreeBay

Here is an old Japanese maple that is in very good health, but it has been neglected in terms of basic repotting. It has very nice bark and the branches are very well ramified. It's extremely twiggy.

Unfortunately, no one undertook the basic repotting that is so essential with a field grown tree. The root base is mounded up, but instead of a single radial roto system, the tree has been allowed to grow from the center down, creating this bulge at the expense of the root base.

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TreeBay

Here some basic wiring has been done to bring the branches down. It appeared to me that a weeping style to the branches could complement the elegant trunk line. What this tree really needs is a shallower, wider pot that will help the root system develop horizontally.

It may be hard to visualize at this point, but this tree's natural wild appearance and gentle trunk taper combined with the interesting curve should allow it to be a unique, very attractive bonsai in the future.

It breaks many conventional rules, but remains pleasing at the same time.

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TreeBay

Now getting to the point of this thread - the root sickle.

This tree is probably 30+ years old and has been well cared for as a bonsai, so it has no large knobby roots, but it does have a thick pad of roots that needs desperately to be reduced, and a few criscrossing roots at the surface.

Growing in the bathtub shaped container didn't really help it much. It gave the root system room to grow, and kept the tree healthy, but at the expense of a fine radial root system.

Using the root scythe, we can rapidly cut through a thick root pad like this one.

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TreeBay

And separate the thick pad into two sections. From this point, a more traditional approach of root hook, chopsticks and scissors will be used to comb out the root pad, but the scythe has made quick work of the bulk.

It would have taken me at least an hour with scissors to work the root pad down to this point.



You can find scythes (also called sickles) at some full service nurseries, and of course, TreeBay has them:

JR-0194 Repotting Sickle

JR-0194 Repotting Sickle

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Bonsai Barry

Those photos convinced me. What I spend for a sickle, I will more than save by not dulling my other tools!


Barry

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Bonsai Barry

"Our talent lies in our choices."

Bart Thomas(deceased)

And the price is right!

robert1955

I got one for my birthday in Jan. Now I know how to use it, but I haven't yet.


Bob

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BonsaiGreenhorn

Interesting little subject here.
Good info + pictures.

-Evan

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Aaron_K

They do look very effective, and what a time saver! Definately gonna have to invest in one of these.

Love that Maple too Matt, really unusual looking and elegant too.

Kindest regards,

Aaron