Yamadori Bonsai by SOTG - Recently Harvested Chinese Elm (2024) Root clean & Prune

Prepping a 10 year old or so Ulmus parvifolia, after years in the ground it starts the transition to Bonsai.
Part 1.
Full Story of this Tree will be featured @sotg.uk
Intro:
(Wikipedia)
"commonly known as the Chinese elm or lacebark elm, is a species native to eastern Asia, including China, India, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam."
Prized as Bonsai material due to the small nature and size of the leaves. As well as being suited to being kept in containers; if well cared for.
About this tree & the others from this batch of Yamadori collected Bonsai Tree material from 2024.
This material was harvested after over 7 Years of being in the ground.
It was planted as a strong healthy sapling in a very exposed position, full sun and a strong wind presence. & left to the seasons and time. To weather and mature. Thicken up and form some natural shape and character.
It was watered during times of need and drought periods; of which there were a few. The tree has also been fed over time to encourage strong growth; but has received minimal branch selection or heavy pruning. Other than when it was staring to intrude on the space of another tree, or beyond the shape I wished it to fill; once a new canopy has been grown.
It was harvested using a Micro JCB. One of many trees collected at this point. The trees had been planted to allow later collection using a small JCB, or if required; by hand tolls and small battery cutting tools to clear large roots anchoring the tree. Other trees requiring the use of a chainsaw, to reduce branches or trunks for ease of collection. Or if overly thick roots were holding removal up.
In this video:
You can see me choosing and reducing the tree branches and also reducing the thicker anchoring roots; while sizing up the actual tree, its root structure and the demands I anticipate the tree to place on the root network, pot and amount of light and space it will need in the Nursery.
The larger roots are not needed as much as the finer "feeder" roots; that allow the tree to take up water and food. The thicker roots were used to 'tap' into the ground and anchor itself for the first few years. then as it matured and needed; further thicker roots spread out to tie itself in against strong winds or inclines. Some of these roots are desirable for bonsai; as running over the surface and thickness can show or give the impression of 'Age' or 'Power'. Both desired in Bonsai trees. Thicker 'Nebari' and interesting shaped ones are prized by many collectors.
For a while this tree will stay indoors, staying put till it shows healthy signs of recovery & moving outside is the next stage to the tree becoming a living & thriving Bonsai Tree.
So long as we remove enough of the upper tree and allow enough roots below to feed and more importantly; take up enough water for the foliage and trees needs. We seek a balance and also plenty of roots so the tree can anchor itself and for a new healthy root run.
This tree will be sized up for a container, and left to rest for a few years again; to get over the trauma; and recover for later works.
So it can make it to it's final custom made Bonsai Pot; or by the side of a Pond.
That is many years away from now though.
We need to see if it survives the recent upheaval; and does not succumb to transplant shock.
I intend to do some root over rock with this material, as it has some nice thick root structure that will add an interesting feature later on as it matures.
More about plans, design and thoughts later.
For now just setting up the studio to start working through all the trees grown over the last 8 years.
Shot on a Canon M50
K&F Tripod and Mounts.