Here’s an update on the stumps I’ve been developing towards becoming amazing bonsai. These are multi-year projects, but some are really coming along! I’ll see you in the garden...
I've got American hornbeams growing wild all over the place where I live. I harvested one last year as an experiment and it grew a ton! This spring I definitely plan on digging up some far larger ones. My garden will be full of stumps.
Thanks for the late winter tour! I would like to learn more about trunk chopping Japanese Maples. When can you chop and can you take them down completely with no remaining branches?
Autumn chops after leaf drops is my preference. These were chopped in the middle of summer between growth spurts since waiting for autumn wasn’t an option. Some were chopped below branches and have sprouted from the trunk. Maples are pretty reliable for producing new growth from bare wood after big chops.
Fun, fun, fun...as always. I note that in exposing the nebari on your maples and Stewartias you end up with a darkened bark on the part of the trunk/roots that were covered up by soil. How do you get rid of this and even out the color of the trunk?
How do you manage to dig up something so big? Looks like very hard work. I have a low growing japanese maple that been planted in the ground for over 20 years, I would love to put it in a pot but its so firmly planted I dont think I could manage to dig it up. Your ‘stumps’ look amazing. They will make beautiful bonsai.
I had a friend there to help. Still, probably the hardest I’ve worked in the last decade. Over 50 trees like these rescued in less than a week. The hundreds more that I didn’t get to in time got a clean shave from the bulldozer the following week.
I like drum pots. I was recently checking some out online, but the ones that seemed to be the best size were already sold out. I’m keeping my eyes open.👀
I moved the tree from the soil to the bonsai pot for a month, the tree did not grow branches and dried up, the roots did not develop. What root stimulator do I use? thank you!
I did not use root stimulator on these trees. The trees were very strong in the ground and I retained as many feeder roots as I could. It took a year for some of them to show new growth.
Collecting trees can cause the tree to perish if proper care steps are missed. Those steps can vary between deciduous and evergreen species and even between species within those groups. In general… keeping feeder roots and reducing the foliage load are two of the things that will help. A Root stimulator of your choice can be used immediately after collection, but is not mandatory. Many collected trees will not show signs of success for months or even years. I suggest an internet search on collecting the species you want to bring into your collection.
Good morning!!! I have two Japanese maple stumps , around 4 feet tall that I cut two months ago but I still want to bring it down 2 feet, The stump itself is 5 inches wide! Now I’m not sure if I should bring it shorter now or wait till it starts developing branches ? Or maybe I can air layer them later on ? Now If I do so air layer them how long should I wait ?
I suggest letting it produce new growth for a growing season or two before chopping again. Try to keep the stems on the lower portion healthy. If it is grafted, decide if you want the rootstock growth or the scion growth to stay. You can air layer the unwanted section if you like later. So, the simple answer is wait.
