Great video...I have some concave cutters coming soon, they're Japanese imports but I'm on the hunt for some new material. I have 3 Black Cherry trees but they're quite small. The nursery don't have anything in yet but I'm considering pitching a tent, rolling out a sleeping bag and camping out in front of my favorite nursery like we did back in the 70's to buy concert tickets...! Haha...take care brother..
I'll leave the sleeping on the pavement to you mate. My back won't take it nowadays! I was in Morrisons yesterday and they had some really nice cheap plants in. Several different varieties of prunus including kojo no mai, and cotoneasters and some other stuff. Really cheap too. B&M is also a good spot for bargains I find.
@@TonysBonsai We have some great nurseries out here in Denver, CO but I rarely shop there. Everything I see is over priced even the ingredients for making your specialty Bonsai soil. I do have a few new places I found actually...just waiting for them trucks to show up with my trees!!
Tough call on the birch. What you did with the clean cut is great but personally I would have jinned the stump. The Hawthorne is interesting. When I saw the roots, I was thinking of root over rock.
Am I the only one that thinks Tony's soil looks super satisfying? Being in California, all the bonsai soil used here is just a very dry mixture akadama, pummice, lava, and brick. No organic compost so this soil always looks really healthy to me
It's certainly very satisfying to work with Luke, and my trees seem to like it. Having said that, I would definitely include pumice and lava rock if I could afford it, but over here it's insanely expensive.
Well that's basically what it should be.. lava, pumice and akadama. Can't go wrong with that mixture for bonsai trees. It allows air and water to drain and flow through more easily. I will admit that sometimes I do add potting soil and other organic material to some of my trees since i am at work all day and as he said, sometimes you just can't afford it.
I still put rocks on the bottom of my japanese maples. They are in 1 gal pots and keeps them sturdy. I had a good laugh cause i still use them rocks 🤣. Today i mix potting soil akadama pumice lava pine bark and those infamous rocks just a quarter of the way up. Good times. Tony have u ever made a forest with alot of hills? I tried and all the bonsai soil just falls away from the tree if i try to make it high up. What can do to make the soil sit under the trees but make some nice hills?
Hi Chris. I've had that exact same issue with a group of Japanese maples that I put together last year. The soil just kept washing away, but i'm going to sort it out next week or so. Apparently, the best thing you can do, would be to use some bonsai muck and then cover it in moss. Just this afternoon I filmed a video showing how I made bonsai muck for a root over rock, so it should hopefully go live tomorrow or the day after.
@@TonysBonsai ok cool. I did find a place where i live that actually sells it . Its called muck. Maybe i have to buy some and replant them next year. So i would have to build the muck up plant the tree on the muck then bonsai soil around it i guess
@@TonysBonsai ahh ok. Seems like a better idea. It was really tough getting the tree up with bonsai soil then try and wire it in place . I put together 7 katsura maples. Took me over 4 hours .Next year ill try that effect
Thanks for a good long video. I was thinking about the soil. And then you mentioned it. 500 liters already 😮 hope you got a sponsor soon!. I'f you do some premiers videos. I can donate some well earn pounds to you mate!
Thank you for the offer mate. Very kind. I earn some money off the adverts before and after my videos, so I make a few quid to pay for bits of bonsai stuff. I turn off the non-skippable and the mid-video ads though as I think they are a distraction. When I get to 1 million subscribers, I'll turn them on and go on holiday to the Canary Isle 🤣🤣
That was a good cut down low. Not sure all trees need jin in my own taste and that will heal over really well. I would have left it tall too. I’ve done quite a bit of growing out like that and I never regret it. It’s super easy to make the call later as to what is the right time and not just when I want to do it. That maple is really nice too. Great color on it at this stage and dang that’s a nice root spread.
I was really surprised by those roots. I was hoping they'd be nice, but they looked absolutely amazing. It's hard sometimes leaving trees to just grow, but as you say, I never regret it.
Three good examples of root work. My favourite tree is the silver birch though i don't think you need both of the long branches to help seal the wound, one should be sufficient and you can start secondary branch ramification with the other.
Thanks Andrew. I think i'll return to this tree later this year and perhaps do a bit of pruning. I suppose it's a balance between healing that wound and building a decent structure.
That initial tree puts me in mind of the big oak lump I bought at the Doncaster show - a big spherical burl at the bottom with one prominent branch coming up, which takes a severe 90 degree turn and looks to all intents like an elbow.
Yeah, I suppose that's the challenge of yamadori. We get these 'imperfections', and we have to either embrace them or as I did here, have a go at making some changes.
@@TonysBonsai I think I can reduce the “elbow” or possibly reduce that branch overall but the big lump at the base is going to have to remain as a “feature” in my tree. No doubt a video for the future but also a challenge. 👍 Nice result reducing in on that birch.
Cheers Kevin. I'm tending to leave branches more and more where I can, to allow trees to heal and roots to grow. They can always be chopped later in the year once the tree is established.
I think the roots did great in with the limestone chips in the bottom. lol. That surprised me. As adamant as all of the (experts) are about using garden soil as a medium, you would think they would have rotted away. lol
🤣🤣yeah I know what you mean Steve. Sometimes it's put across that without the fancy soil your trees have no chance. I'm sure that the best soils are superior, but by how much, I'm not convinced.
@@TonysBonsai me either dude, but they ALL seem to be very convinced. lol. I’m kinda like you, it’s probably better, I just don’t know how much better. lol. You would think that they would die immediately.
As always Tony: very interesting video!!! I wonder if you could use the big root you cut of from the hawthorn as a rootcutting. It has a nice amount of small feeder roots, maybe it will root???
With the maple Tony, when did you start the air layer and how long did you leave it before cutting it off. I’ve a couple of nice maples that are ready for layering but I’ve not been successful in the past with ones I’ve tried. Would like to have another go but fear I might cock them up again.
I seem to recall that I made the layer in the summer and removed it six weeks later in early autumn. I'll be doing more air layers this year a bit earlier though in late spring and removing in later summer. I don't know if the ones you tries were on red-leafed maples? Apparently (and in my experience) they are lot harder to air-layer. Green leafed ones are normally pretty easy.
Why don’t you put the hawthorn in a board. Will help keeping the roots flat. Any that get past the circular board will go down the pot. Pull out in 2 yrs and easy to trim around the board.
I disagree Tony. That silver birch looks nicely proportioned if you trim the top. The trunk will continue to heal regardless. In the meantime the tree is gaining lovely structure for future tertiary branching.
Yes, I agree that it would definitely look better proportioned if I trimmed the top, but I'm also sure that it will grow quite a bit stronger if I leave it alone to grow tall.
@@TonysBonsai stronger yes but it has lovely taper as is (very feminine) and very good branch positioning with the front as videoed. Have another look at the vid. Not all your trees need to be heavy. Some smaller bonsai with more delicate features will work.
Some good working of three different trees. It is going ot be a wild and busy period of repots for the next few weeks I fear! Last year I managed to go through over 400 litres of potting mix in the end. Thankfully that should mean a lot less to repot this year :()
Yeah, I don't really have many what you would call traditional re-pots, because my trees have only been potted max two years, but I do have a few that need the initial root investigation a bit like these. Fun time of year for sure!
Cheers Tony! Is it necessary to remove all of the sphagnum moss from the air layer? I was under the impression that one could leave all of the sphagnum to deteriorate naturally in the future. Thanks man. Rock on! Looking good!
Hi Steve. That is a great question, and I have absolutely no idea where I heard it, or if in fact that is something I came up with myself 🤣 I know that it is not great to leave a tree planted in moss for more than a year or two, but as you say, within a couple of years, a relatively small amount will just decay away.
I fond that when the roots are already thick and established, it's really quite difficult getting them to sit nicely on a rock. it's not impossible, but to get those onto a rock would have been a real challenge I think.
Now Tony this is not good enough you have finished the video before I finished my bike session, you must do better, like they say, room for improvement. Ha ha.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
Nothing quite as satisfying as successful air layer. Especially a maple! Gives such a good start for bonsai.
yeah, I'm really looking forward to developing this tree now and seeing what this root base develops into over time.
Excellent airlayer Tony 👍
Thank you. Yeah it turned out really nicely. I was surprised how great that radial spread turned out.
Fabulous presentation thanks Tony
Cheers mate. Glad you enjoyed it.
Great vid Tony 👍👍
Cheers mate.
My favourite time of year by far! Trees waking up, root work and repotting 🌳💚
Yeah I just love it when all my trees are waking up and coming alive. My favourite time to be out looking at my trees.
Now the crappy weather is hopefully behind us it’s full ahead, warp speed. Lots to do.
Bonsai phill very good video nice shape tree s thanks Tony keep it up mate
Cheers Phil. I think I did the best I could with these three.
Trifecta today Tony. Thanks, keep growing
ooo I had a trifecta on the dogs come in once. that was a good day!
Nice job as always Tony!
Thanks Raymond. I was pleasantly surprised by these especially the maple.
Exactly what I am doing these days, Tony. Good to see some of your videos in between my repottings. 😄🙋♀️
Love this time of year. So much to do and loads of projects to put together
Great video...I have some concave cutters coming soon, they're Japanese imports but I'm on the hunt for some new material. I have 3 Black Cherry trees but they're quite small. The nursery don't have anything in yet but I'm considering pitching a tent, rolling out a sleeping bag and camping out in front of my favorite nursery like we did back in the 70's to buy concert tickets...! Haha...take care brother..
I'll leave the sleeping on the pavement to you mate. My back won't take it nowadays!
I was in Morrisons yesterday and they had some really nice cheap plants in. Several different varieties of prunus including kojo no mai, and cotoneasters and some other stuff. Really cheap too. B&M is also a good spot for bargains I find.
@@TonysBonsai We have some great nurseries out here in Denver, CO but I rarely shop there. Everything I see is over priced even the ingredients for making your specialty Bonsai soil. I do have a few new places I found actually...just waiting for them trucks to show up with my trees!!
Keep your eyes peeled, and I'm sure you'll find the treasure!
Tough call on the birch. What you did with the clean cut is great but personally I would have jinned the stump. The Hawthorne is interesting. When I saw the roots, I was thinking of root over rock.
Yes, it was a tricky decision on that birch. I was tempted by the jin, but I think it would always have looked a bit awkward.
I like them all.
Thanks Kennet. They surprised me.
Am I the only one that thinks Tony's soil looks super satisfying? Being in California, all the bonsai soil used here is just a very dry mixture akadama, pummice, lava, and brick. No organic compost so this soil always looks really healthy to me
It's certainly very satisfying to work with Luke, and my trees seem to like it. Having said that, I would definitely include pumice and lava rock if I could afford it, but over here it's insanely expensive.
Well that's basically what it should be.. lava, pumice and akadama. Can't go wrong with that mixture for bonsai trees. It allows air and water to drain and flow through more easily. I will admit that sometimes I do add potting soil and other organic material to some of my trees since i am at work all day and as he said, sometimes you just can't afford it.
All coming on well just a matter of time Tony.
yeah, these should do well in he future, cheers Joe.
I still put rocks on the bottom of my japanese maples. They are in 1 gal pots and keeps them sturdy. I had a good laugh cause i still use them rocks 🤣. Today i mix potting soil akadama pumice lava pine bark and those infamous rocks just a quarter of the way up. Good times. Tony have u ever made a forest with alot of hills? I tried and all the bonsai soil just falls away from the tree if i try to make it high up. What can do to make the soil sit under the trees but make some nice hills?
Hi Chris. I've had that exact same issue with a group of Japanese maples that I put together last year. The soil just kept washing away, but i'm going to sort it out next week or so. Apparently, the best thing you can do, would be to use some bonsai muck and then cover it in moss.
Just this afternoon I filmed a video showing how I made bonsai muck for a root over rock, so it should hopefully go live tomorrow or the day after.
@@TonysBonsai ok cool. I did find a place where i live that actually sells it . Its called muck. Maybe i have to buy some and replant them next year. So i would have to build the muck up plant the tree on the muck then bonsai soil around it i guess
No, I think you plant the trees on bonsai soil, then use the muck on the outside to hold it all together and cover in moss
@@TonysBonsai ahh ok. Seems like a better idea. It was really tough getting the tree up with bonsai soil then try and wire it in place . I put together 7 katsura maples. Took me over 4 hours .Next year ill try that effect
I just love a challenge like that, and it certainly sounds like a tricky one to put together. Hopefully it looks great.
Oh boy, I got high hopes for that maple!
Yeah, me too. I think it could go on to be a real beauty as it develops.
That hawthorn has some funky roots. I hope it does better in the new soil. Its got a good shape despite it.
Yeah it could be an interesting tree that one. I'm sure it will do fine as they are tough cookies.
Thanks for a good long video. I was thinking about the soil. And then you mentioned it. 500 liters already 😮 hope you got a sponsor soon!. I'f you do some premiers videos. I can donate some well earn pounds to you mate!
Thank you for the offer mate. Very kind. I earn some money off the adverts before and after my videos, so I make a few quid to pay for bits of bonsai stuff. I turn off the non-skippable and the mid-video ads though as I think they are a distraction.
When I get to 1 million subscribers, I'll turn them on and go on holiday to the Canary Isle 🤣🤣
@Tonys Bonsai it will probably take a few years. But a million subs you truly deserve! Turn the ads on again. I will watch!
That was a good cut down low. Not sure all trees need jin in my own taste and that will heal over really well. I would have left it tall too. I’ve done quite a bit of growing out like that and I never regret it. It’s super easy to make the call later as to what is the right time and not just when I want to do it.
That maple is really nice too. Great color on it at this stage and dang that’s a nice root spread.
I was really surprised by those roots. I was hoping they'd be nice, but they looked absolutely amazing.
It's hard sometimes leaving trees to just grow, but as you say, I never regret it.
Three good examples of root work. My favourite tree is the silver birch though i don't think you need both of the long branches to help seal the wound, one should be sufficient and you can start secondary branch ramification with the other.
Thanks Andrew. I think i'll return to this tree later this year and perhaps do a bit of pruning. I suppose it's a balance between healing that wound and building a decent structure.
That initial tree puts me in mind of the big oak lump I bought at the Doncaster show - a big spherical burl at the bottom with one prominent branch coming up, which takes a severe 90 degree turn and looks to all intents like an elbow.
Yeah, I suppose that's the challenge of yamadori. We get these 'imperfections', and we have to either embrace them or as I did here, have a go at making some changes.
@@TonysBonsai I think I can reduce the “elbow” or possibly reduce that branch overall but the big lump at the base is going to have to remain as a “feature” in my tree. No doubt a video for the future but also a challenge. 👍
Nice result reducing in on that birch.
Yeah, it's a lot easier to be bold with a tree I collected and I'm not attached to. Once I've paid for a tree the pressure increases.
I thought you were very restrained with that last silver Birch. Expected the really long 2 branches would get a good chop. But again nice trees.
Cheers Kevin. I'm tending to leave branches more and more where I can, to allow trees to heal and roots to grow. They can always be chopped later in the year once the tree is established.
I think the roots did great in with the limestone chips in the bottom. lol. That surprised me. As adamant as all of the (experts) are about using garden soil as a medium, you would think they would have rotted away. lol
🤣🤣yeah I know what you mean Steve. Sometimes it's put across that without the fancy soil your trees have no chance. I'm sure that the best soils are superior, but by how much, I'm not convinced.
@@TonysBonsai me either dude, but they ALL seem to be very convinced. lol. I’m kinda like you, it’s probably better, I just don’t know how much better. lol. You would think that they would die immediately.
As always Tony: very interesting video!!! I wonder if you could use the big root you cut of from the hawthorn as a rootcutting. It has a nice amount of small feeder roots, maybe it will root???
That's a good idea, except it's been on the side over night inside my house and has dried out. Next time I'll definitely try to remember to have a go.
With the maple Tony, when did you start the air layer and how long did you leave it before cutting it off. I’ve a couple of nice maples that are ready for layering but I’ve not been successful in the past with ones I’ve tried. Would like to have another go but fear I might cock them up again.
I seem to recall that I made the layer in the summer and removed it six weeks later in early autumn. I'll be doing more air layers this year a bit earlier though in late spring and removing in later summer. I don't know if the ones you tries were on red-leafed maples? Apparently (and in my experience) they are lot harder to air-layer. Green leafed ones are normally pretty easy.
@@TonysBonsai thanks Tony, it’s a Green ‘un. I’ll give it another try this spring when the snow and freezing weather abates. Cheers
Why don’t you put the hawthorn in a board. Will help keeping the roots flat. Any that get past the circular board will go down the pot. Pull out in 2 yrs and easy to trim around the board.
Yeah, I just had this pot handy, but I'll probably re-pot it next year into something with a flatter base
I disagree Tony. That silver birch looks nicely proportioned if you trim the top. The trunk will continue to heal regardless. In the meantime the tree is gaining lovely structure for future tertiary branching.
Yes, I agree that it would definitely look better proportioned if I trimmed the top, but I'm also sure that it will grow quite a bit stronger if I leave it alone to grow tall.
@@TonysBonsai stronger yes but it has lovely taper as is (very feminine) and very good branch positioning with the front as videoed. Have another look at the vid. Not all your trees need to be heavy. Some smaller bonsai with more delicate features will work.
Some good working of three different trees. It is going ot be a wild and busy period of repots for the next few weeks I fear! Last year I managed to go through over 400 litres of potting mix in the end. Thankfully that should mean a lot less to repot this year :()
Yeah, I don't really have many what you would call traditional re-pots, because my trees have only been potted max two years, but I do have a few that need the initial root investigation a bit like these. Fun time of year for sure!
Cheers Tony! Is it necessary to remove all of the sphagnum moss from the air layer? I was under the impression that one could leave all of the sphagnum to deteriorate naturally in the future. Thanks man. Rock on! Looking good!
Hi Steve. That is a great question, and I have absolutely no idea where I heard it, or if in fact that is something I came up with myself 🤣
I know that it is not great to leave a tree planted in moss for more than a year or two, but as you say, within a couple of years, a relatively small amount will just decay away.
👌🏻
Cheers Robert.
Would you not put the hawthorn on a rock Tony it looks natural for a rock at the back...just saying
I fond that when the roots are already thick and established, it's really quite difficult getting them to sit nicely on a rock. it's not impossible, but to get those onto a rock would have been a real challenge I think.
Now Tony this is not good enough you have finished the video before I finished my bike session, you must do better, like they say, room for improvement. Ha ha.
🤣🤣Sounds to me like you're getting too fit Joe. Probably time to start eating a few extra hob nobs!