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!

A couple of months ago I managed to have a look at the new roots growing on this very large Japanese Maple garden tree that I had ground layered two years ago here.

 autumn 2017

March 2018

Evidence of new roots

Wooden box removed and rootball undercut

Plenty of new root beginning to thicken.  These were spread and left to extend and thicken.

No new roots on this side.  Older thicker roots were trimmed around the whole tree.

The bare side was cut again and pasted with rooting hormone.  Tree replanted with free draining soil mix and covered.

Back in the flower bed for another two years.