very good example of root pruning at this time of year my friend they have a great start for a healthy life with you!

I dug up an American elm today. It's a couple of weeks late for digging up trees here, but I only just discovered the tree in my garden (hiding under a hedge). When I dug it up, I had to cut the very long tap root. I washed away the soil from the root ball, only to discover that there were NO fine roots in there at all! There is a single fine root coming off the remains of the tap root, and that's it. I guess all the fine roots for this tree were coming off the tap root, and thus got cut off. I am very worried that this tree is not going to make it, but seeing how much you pruned off these roots was very encouraging, especially as this is an older video and I know your elms survived. I hope mine does too!

Another great video with some good tips.

Hi Nigel, thank you for one more wonderful video. Cheers from Brazil

well done i like that you are working confidently thanks a lot

Hey Nigel, would you mind sharing information or even making a small video about your soil mixes for your trees? A video as such would be extremely informative and very helpful to those refining their practice in bonsai. Thanks! Great lengthy videos and great channel!

By the way, I saw your video where you layered the maple in the ground with a course mix. I was contemplating doing that to a hackberry I'm growing out with about a 5 inch trunk. Keep us posted. I'd like to see how it turns out. The existing root ball is just way to big to even try to think about hacking away at.

Thanks Nigel. I'm thinking about doing a raised bed using granite and a very course builders sand. I want to use straight lava, but the budget won't allow me to at this time. I have friends at the asphalt plant so I should be in pretty good shape. Thanks for the response.

Hi have you got any updates on these elms? Intrested in seeing the again?

Elm trees are easy and fast growing species for bonsai, especially Chinese elms. They have got be one of my favorites to work with. Have you ever worked on Oak trees?

Do you make yo ur own bonsai soil? If yes, what all goes into it? From the looks of it it just seems fine gravel.

I have been contemplating doing something similar to what you have in mind in regards to a grow out garden, but I was leaning more towards a raised bed. My only concern is will the trees be able to grow some decent surface roots, or will they all be fibrous. I have a drop dead gorgeous bougainvillea that I have been growing in a large terracotta pot with straight lava. Everything above the surface is great, the roots however are a different story. They're healthy as can be, but no thick surface roots. I did however grow the tree from nursery stock and thankfully have lots of cuttings to thread graft some roots onto it with. I was told I should have either grown it in the ground first, or used a nursery mix to encourage long stringy roots at first. Oh well, lesson learned. Have you any suggestions on the matter, because I absolutely, positively hate growing anything other than vegetables in nursery/ “shrub" mix. In my opinion, nursery mix is a serial killer.

elms are a menace for us here..very invasive, but a helluva vigorous grower!

Have you ever grown a pear bonsai? I just bought some cuttings to try and root. Any tips?

would it have been useful to put rooting hormone on the large cuts?

Did any of these trees die? And which are doing well?

Where can I find American Elm Bonsai trees for sale?

Hi nigal iv put someone on to you in your same provance for bonsai he's new and can do with help iv suggested yourself his names Jean he said he's gonna get in touch n ask about bonsai from yourself , Buy a tall grow house for the for the side of the house n keep your beds haha