It never occured to me that i would go that far but once those cutters start moving it can be hard to stop. It's a little bit like trying to keep your sideburns even...it isnt long before they are all gone :)
The fourth elm tree, you mentioned making it a cascade style but "you just don't see that in a silver birch". My first thought seeing the roots on that tree was a cascade. And if no one else is doing a birch cascade it would make it a more unique and special tree. As well, Tony seemed like the type of person that liked to do things different from everyone else . I vote to make that one a cascade, not that you asked us to vote on it.
Repotting in a pondbasket is probably the only way for these Legacy birches to survive and develop a suitable root structure. Please keep us updated. Thanks for sharing Xavier. 😘 Enjoy your day 🙏❤️ Cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
You've put some hard work into those birch trees Xavier. They will really look good because of it. Considering how hard Tony worked his trees, this is a fitting continuation of their journey. Some amazing material there - time to let the pond baskets do their job!
Great video. It would have been "a full Nigel" on the last one if more hair had been involved.😂 The spirit of Tony lives on in his remaining trees and friends who care for them.
I know that feeling and you may be right to be careful. Field maple are pretty hardy with root removal so i did spin the dice. If it was my only tree I may have done it in two operations...several years apart :)
would have loved to see some of those birch with exposed roots. some of them had lovely looking roots. I'll send you some stuff about my tony trees next week
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat well, I've already repotted and pruned them. I was waiting for the oak to push growth before I updated. It was terrible weather when I did the repotting so didn't video it. It wasn't a fun, relaxing bonsai experience either. They were difficult material.
Wow, that root pruning would definetely kill silver beach in my conditions. Brave root cuts, please share updates. I would love to get a Tony tree. Great videos, not that good root works.😂😂
Thank you for the video! With such "leggy" trees, a good solution can be root layers: The roots below the layer will feed the tree, but these roots won't grow anymore. However, root growth will be stimulated in the section above the layer
Yes: I wouldn't be too critical of Tony. He was new to bonsai and on a steep learning curve which he embraced charismatically. He didn't expect everything to work out and I'm sure his willingness to try stuff has inspired many. The trees are going to be fine. I am a bit concerned about your full Nigel approach, but you're a long way south of Preston so things should be OK.
Tony and I used to joke regularly about soil and different approaches. Thankfully, as hobbyists, we can look at our mistakes with a positive approach and learn. The pruning on the field maple will be fine. Again, something Tony was quite happy to go nuts on. All the best :)
Great video great to see your trying to improve the health of Tony’s trees can I ask what size of pond baskets those are? Thanks keep up the good work!
Hi Xav Tony’s Silver birch do look in really bad state due mainly as you say to the soil, the big chunky lumps under the soil don’t do the trees any favours wild trees often have as big if not bigger trunk below the soil usually with a 90 degree bend as the trunks above the soil level as yours (ex Tony’s) do not ideal bonsai material, repotting the live ones is the best option in the baskets with good free draining soil. Blimey mate the field maple did have a lot of roots at the beginning, at the end you would have a job finding what was left, hope it works out, at least field maples are more tolerant than most other maples, so there is a fair chance it will make it. This year the trees that are now in leaf seem more healthy than usual, the foliage is is thicker, the leaves are definitely bigger than other years at this time especially my Maples, I suppose it is due to our mild very wet winter and early spring plus the odd bright sunny days we have had in the last couple of weeks. This makes me believe that it is going to be a good growing season, let’s hope so Xav. Btw, I made up another floating bonsai with another one I bought, this time I have used a small cascade juniper which seems to be made for it. I will send you a couple of pics of it tomorrow mate. All the best. Joe.
Thanks Joe - I never intended to go as hard on that maple but if I wantt o get the root plane right, I think it is worth the risk. They are pretty hardy as you say. I am finding all of my stuff is in strong leaf as well. Especially the flowering species - best year ever :)
Thaks for your support and I hope all of your bonsai are thriving right now. Mine are all throwing out so much strong growth this year - it's brilliant.
Field maple treated in true Tony style. Just a little trim. Chop. Boom.😀
Definitely went a wee bit hard. But it will be for the best...I hope :)
In for a penny
Think Tony was egging you on a bit there mate 🤔 😊
Bless ya and Tony too 🙏
Thanks for the tree update. I think Tony was cheering you on!! I think.......
We shall never know :)
Great to see Tony’s trees moving on. Nice aggressive root pruning on the last one.
Now that is a positive way of describing how much I ended up removing - cheers Dave
You went full Nigel on those roots 😂🎉. Keep up the Tony Tree updates coming
Thanks Scott - didnt start off with that intention but once the 'crazy look' grabs you it is too late to stop :)
God bless Tony and his trees!
He made a big impact on a lot of people in a very short time :)
Lovely to see Tony's trees get upgraded, well done Xavier
Thanks Nerina - back to my own trees again :)
Went “full Nigel” on that last root base 😅😉
That phrase may come back to haunt me very soon :)
Wow! Braver than I would be on the field maple.
It never occured to me that i would go that far but once those cutters start moving it can be hard to stop. It's a little bit like trying to keep your sideburns even...it isnt long before they are all gone :)
The fourth elm tree, you mentioned making it a cascade style but "you just don't see that in a silver birch". My first thought seeing the roots on that tree was a cascade. And if no one else is doing a birch cascade it would make it a more unique and special tree. As well, Tony seemed like the type of person that liked to do things different from everyone else . I vote to make that one a cascade, not that you asked us to vote on it.
I shall keep a note of this recommendation and see if i can follow through on that . thaks for your opinion - it is valued :)
Expecting to see Mary Poppins float in any minute on that wind. 😄
It has been a nightmare recently. I kept trying to wait but gave up in the end. I have the same issue with sun glare sometimes :)
Those trees will do much better now! Great video Xavier!
They are all looking very happy right now :)
This is my tribute to the algorithm. Great video.
And a great tribute it is too - thank you :)
Repotting in a pondbasket is probably the only way for these Legacy birches to survive and develop a suitable root structure. Please keep us updated. Thanks for sharing Xavier. 😘 Enjoy your day 🙏❤️ Cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
Thanks Martina - they are all budding out happily now.
You've put some hard work into those birch trees Xavier. They will really look good because of it. Considering how hard Tony worked his trees, this is a fitting continuation of their journey. Some amazing material there - time to let the pond baskets do their job!
Fingers crossed - but they are all budding out nicely now.
Great video. It would have been "a full Nigel" on the last one if more hair had been involved.😂 The spirit of Tony lives on in his remaining trees and friends who care for them.
So true - Thanks for the support :)
Great update xav mate 👊👊
Thanks Andy
Lovely job
Cheers Raymond
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat keep up the great work
Wow Xav that was a lot of roots removed from the last one. I wouldn't dare do that. I'd be too scared of killing it.
I know that feeling and you may be right to be careful. Field maple are pretty hardy with root removal so i did spin the dice. If it was my only tree I may have done it in two operations...several years apart :)
Hay Xav, @15:41 you have s a scale insect below the branch. Check your trees for the little sap suckers
Thanks for that - I found quite a few post video but it is something I am always battling in my garden.
😮 literally shouted nooooo when you cut the first 2 high roots off the field maple! i was fully expecting you to take off the lower root planes. 🤞
That was my initial thought process but then when I looked at the potential taper issues I decided to be bolder. It may come back and bite me :)
Some good bit of root work on that field maple! Great video Xavier!
I'm getting the feeling that there will be a lot of interest in whether that maple recovers from my butchery :)
would have loved to see some of those birch with exposed roots. some of them had lovely looking roots.
I'll send you some stuff about my tony trees next week
No hurry Adam - maybe wait until late May pruning?
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat well, I've already repotted and pruned them. I was waiting for the oak to push growth before I updated. It was terrible weather when I did the repotting so didn't video it. It wasn't a fun, relaxing bonsai experience either. They were difficult material.
@@Ad_DOOMI'm not surprised - it will work well as an update later in the year and a chat about what you hadd to do?
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat yea, I wish I'd taken some more process photos. But I'll do my vest
That third tree (around the 10:00 mark) has great movement and potential. 👍
Root pruning on that last tree 😮😱😱
It was a massacre :)
👌👍🙂
Thanks Bruce
That´s some serious rootwork Xav!
Grts
Kennet
You would have done the same Kennet :)
15:39 🤔 right down under this little branch - it looks like a scale insect sitting there. 🧐 Maybe worth giving a second look. 😘
He is dead meat now :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat 😄👍
Foisting 😊
Great seeing you on the comments Matt. I hope all is well at your end of the bonsai world :)
Wow, that root pruning would definetely kill silver beach in my conditions. Brave root cuts, please share updates. I would love to get a Tony tree. Great videos, not that good root works.😂😂
They are all in leaf now so hopefully things will progress well. Cheers Magnus
If anyone can improve these trees, it’s you Xav.
Thanks for the vote of confidence Steve.
Thank you for the video! With such "leggy" trees, a good solution can be root layers: The roots below the layer will feed the tree, but these roots won't grow anymore. However, root growth will be stimulated in the section above the layer
Never heard of that - thanks for the idea. Will look at trying that on one or two of my oaks...always the last for repots :)
Yes: I wouldn't be too critical of Tony. He was new to bonsai and on a steep learning curve which he embraced charismatically. He didn't expect everything to work out and I'm sure his willingness to try stuff has inspired many. The trees are going to be fine. I am a bit concerned about your full Nigel approach, but you're a long way south of Preston so things should be OK.
Tony and I used to joke regularly about soil and different approaches. Thankfully, as hobbyists, we can look at our mistakes with a positive approach and learn. The pruning on the field maple will be fine. Again, something Tony was quite happy to go nuts on. All the best :)
Great video great to see your trying to improve the health of Tony’s trees can I ask what size of pond baskets those are? Thanks keep up the good work!
They are 22 x 12 cm. Thanks for watching
Hi Xav Tony’s Silver birch do look in really bad state due mainly as you say to the soil, the big chunky lumps under the soil don’t do the trees any favours wild trees often have as big if not bigger trunk below the soil usually with a 90 degree bend as the trunks above the soil level as yours (ex Tony’s) do not ideal bonsai material, repotting the live ones is the best option in the baskets with good free draining soil. Blimey mate the field maple did have a lot of roots at the beginning, at the end you would have a job finding what was left, hope it works out, at least field maples are more tolerant than most other maples, so there is a fair chance it will make it.
This year the trees that are now in leaf seem more healthy than usual, the foliage is is thicker, the leaves are definitely bigger than other years at this time especially my Maples, I suppose it is due to our mild very wet winter and early spring plus the odd bright sunny days we have had in the last couple of weeks. This makes me believe that it is going to be a good growing season, let’s hope so Xav.
Btw, I made up another floating bonsai with another one I bought, this time I have used a small cascade juniper which seems to be made for it.
I will send you a couple of pics of it tomorrow mate. All the best. Joe.
Thanks Joe - I never intended to go as hard on that maple but if I wantt o get the root plane right, I think it is worth the risk. They are pretty hardy as you say. I am finding all of my stuff is in strong leaf as well. Especially the flowering species - best year ever :)
5:40 I'm sorry, but this hat makes you look a bit like Freddie Krueger. That and what you did to that tree earlier )
If the picture fits then I suppose I better wear it :)
I feel cheated without having further ado...😅😅
Thaks for your support and I hope all of your bonsai are thriving right now. Mine are all throwing out so much strong growth this year - it's brilliant.