The roots of each tree should be combed out. This flattens the root ball and makes the tree stand more easily in the pot.

Here the planting is developing with the major trees now in place.

Additional stones and plants are added. The stones are bedded in the soil so that they appearance is natural. Stone height and size should vary

A turntable makes it possible to turn the planting and work from all sides easily.

The smallest plants and stones are placed last to balance the planting. Soil is added with scoop while the plant is held in place. Kathy did not use any planting wires on this arrangement.

The larger trees had been pre-wired and shaped to make the planting go together more smoothly.

The plant is held in place as more soil is added. No planting wires were used, however the larger trees were shaped and wired before planting.

The planting is coming together rapidly after about 60 minutes work. Kathy demonstrates how relatively inexpensive and young material can be creatively arranged for immediate enjoyment.

With the planting phase of the saikei completed, moss will now be added. The moss functions to control erosion of the soil during watering and helps to hold the trees in place.

This moss was collected with a small trowel from areas near a parking lot.

The moss will need to be prepared by removing much of the soil on the underside by scraping with the trowel end of a tweezer.

Moss is pressed firmly in place near the trees and stones. Care should be taken that the moss does not grow up onto the trunks of the trees.

Muck (a combination of adobe soil and finely chopped and ground sphagnum peat moss can also be used to create walls for planting on large flat stones or slate. This should be kneaded thoroughly and applied in rolls to the surface of the stone or slate.