Like all bonsai enthusiasts in the dead of winter, I’m excited about the potential of the growing season ahead. I’ve a lot catch up on after two years of inactivity in the garden but in some cases this has been a good thing. Some of the field grown material has flourished and thickened considerably and today I decided to check if some projects were progressing as I’d hoped. The following trees were all ground layered two years ago to hopefully produce a better surface root system:

First was a European Hornbeam

It was planted in cat litter in the ground and I found lots of fine root throughout this. Didn’t go down to Nebari level though as I didn’t want to do much damage at this point. I am satisfied though with the new flare at the bottom of the trunk. While I was at it I took care of some top pruning but left the bottom branches. I’ll airlayer the sacrifice branch in spring. Can’t wait to lift this tree when buds fatten up!

The rest of my material that was ground layered two years ago:

Japanese Larch twin trunk

Jan 2018

Silver Birch

Cut sacrifice branch Jan 2018

Field Maple

January 2018

Field Maple corky bark.  Air layer candidate.

Japanese Maple garden tree.

Jan 2018

fine root

Repotted a couple of weeks ago into its first ceramic pot. Needles are still on so fingers crossed the process hasn’t been too traumatic for the tree.

I plan to wire the tree later in the year after it recovers.

Created during 2020 on Field Maple material that has been grown in the ground for 8 years. The airlayer has been put in the ground to protect it over the winter. I’ll have a proper look at the roots in the spring.