Pruning My Pre Bonsai Garden, The Bonsai Zone, May 2021

It's time to get the front pre-bonsai garden pruned up and ready for the growing season.
To see previous videos of the pre-bonsai garden, click on the playlist here...
• Pre-bonsai Garden
#TheBonsaiZone

[@ph-vf5hx]

I saw a great method from a japanese guy who buries a flat root tile directly under the tree. It stops a big taproot from developing and forces all the small roots into a radial position. Seemed to work really well

[@bennyallbutt]

Sweet moves Nigel. Always stoked to see a new bonsai zone upload. My son and I went on a collecting trip in the bush today. I found a gorgeous little Monterey pine to collect so i called him over (hes 5) and he stared at the tree and said very matter of factly "dad, i think nigel saunders must have been here already because that looks like an amazing bonsai!" Thought youd appreciate that one mate 🇦🇺

[@rolturn]

I really appreciate you showing the pre-bonsai phase. So many videos are the design phase and rarely do we see the real work to know how to get to the end result.

[@Emerald_Coast_Bonsai]

Would love to see what the garden looks like after you clean it up and add the wood chips! I'm gonna ask my wife to start a pre-bonsai garden now! :D

[@alexbecket7140]

That boxwood looks awesome. Currently eyeballing my landlord's boxwood bushes...

[@TazPessle]

My neighbour has some really nice box bushes. Knowing how easy it is to root them, i now want to ask for a cutting... Will i have the nerve though?

[@BonsaiJCan]

😄😂🤣👍

[@debbiej.2168]

@@TazPessle Tell them they're really attractive, and that you'll only take cuttings from the back, where it won't be noticed. Or, ask when they plan on pruning them, and tell them you'd like the cuttings they've trimmed off.

[@paulschaefer5241]

Part of what you said of root pruning ground grown trees is true. However, there is a way to root prune them without digging them up and you can still get a good root system. All you need to do is place a tile or stone or something else that the roots can't grow through below the tree at the time it's planted then root pruning can be done in the spring by simply running a shovel all the way around the tree at the edge of the branch spread.

[@kwieting]

I learned a few things from this video, especially about the boxwood. I didn’t know that they were so easily propagated. I also did not know yew trees could grow back from such a hard pruning or that new growth from Spruce apparently tasted delicious! Very informative video. Thanks for sharing, Nigel!

[@voxxiigen7797]

I noticed how the walnut made a distinct sound when being cut. A great tone wood! I look forward to seeing how they progress.

[@Liisa3139]

I did some cutting in my garden too. One full grown and ugly thuja can't be made prettier, because it is too big, but I gave the low branches a cut in hope of some new green over there. The tree has been damaged long ago when another tree fell and injured the thuja. But it sort of belongs to the scene, so we haven't cut the tree down. I cut some bushes a little bit too. And every time I was about to cut I heard "here I go!" in Nigel's voice. I have clearly been brainwashed. :D

[@RosarioCostanzo]

Those yews are amazing. Growing trees in the ground is a very satisfying way. Boring at the beginning but, at the end, very satisfying

[@twodogsyyc6729]

I have an amazing Rabbit Stew recipe. One or two ok but if those buck tooth bunnies took that many of my trees they'd be getting thinned out too. Lol luv the video great progress Nigel.

[@Tore1972Wisdom]

The curves on the yews is fantastic Nigel. Just as they shoul be, to make en great looking bonsai.

[@patsfreund9164]

Enjoyed watching. That little yew in the front garden looks like it has tremendous bonsai potential.

[@BonsaiJCan]

The Pre Bonsai garden is looking good. I really like the yews, what a suprise when you pruned them back !

[@smokyhillbonsai-gerrettmor6373]

I really like the Yew! I can't wait to see it lifted from the ground!

[@Tybold63]

Am super excited about the coming construction of yer greenhouse! Alot of potential in the pre bonsai garden. Especially the boxwood looks so fresh and healthy.

[@jessesnelling257]

Really excited to see some of those trees out of the ground in the future! Especially that yew, it looks really good!

[@houghtonbonsai]

1 year in the ground is like 5 years in a pot haha love the yews

[@kennethsnedeker8807]

I dug up a black walnut tree put in a bucket of water like a willow it sprouted roots and growth in like a month

[@peeweepabalate302]

Sun! Glorious sun.

[@Long.Bacninh]

The garden is so big and beautiful. Wish you happy weekend!

[@SamDoeckeAussiebonsaibloke]

Pre bonsai in the ground looks great. Pad for the new cement also. Soo close to your new greenhouse 😃😃

[@worldwidenwo]

Looks like a sunny day

[@redzepplin7397]

I love spring time :)

[@ericisconfused]

How do you go on vacation with all your trees to take care of?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I have to get someone to water the trees if I go away. It's a bit stressful until you find someone that does it well!

[@acheronexile]

Would almost recommend that you attempt to put one of your trees in a trash can as the pot, just long enough for it to recover and allow you to trim the tap root a second time.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, good idea!

[@marysoldeeley2218]

I love spruce tip tea... Mmmm... Perhaps I would have better luck with outdoor trees if I planted them in ground for a while...

[@JayDee28]

you will have to paint the window now. Everybody will see it now that the big shoots are gone.

[@jballenger9240]

An inspiring, bright, blue sky day for pruning and sprucing up your pre-bonsai nursery. Wish I could offer another pair of hands if needed. Re: Rabbit winter feeding (and their pro bono pruning services): Would wrapping the more tender trees in burlap offer any protection from rabbit winter feasting? But then again, your trees may be the only place for miles where a rabbit can get a decent tender shoots-and-bark meal in the winter. Enjoy and thank you for sharing.

[@janisgriffith2919]

Hi Nigel! Gorgeous day in Virginia today.

[@Emerald_Coast_Bonsai]

It was a very nice day today in Norfolk here!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Awesome, nice to get some good weather!

[@PlantObsessed]

You could make a littori out of the cedar maybe.

[@smack09]

Cant wait for the collection of Yew

[@thomasjwynn]

Here in the UK, box can suffer from some box blight which can cause lots of problems for the plant. Also, box is affected by the box tree caterpillar which can cause lots of problems for the plant.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Thomas! Here is an article on the blight... www.torontomastergardeners.ca/askagardener/boxwood-blight/ and one on the caterpillars.... www.shadylanetreecare.com/box-tree-moth-treatment#:~:text=In%20November%202018%2C%20the%20Canadian,this%20pest%20in%20North%20America.&text=Damage%20to%20boxwood%20plants%20is,and%20sometimes%20on%20the%20bark.

[@mattdemoraes]

Really good to see your ground growing process Nigel. Do you find ground growing easier or harder on balance? It seems faster for development but also faster for losing track of the branch structure etc... I'm sticking to pond basket growing as a middle ground between bonsai pot and ground at the mo

[@saltySandworm1]

Hi Mr. Saunders. Great content as always! Why didn't you airlayer some of these too-tall-tree? Greets from Belgium

[@theTemplar08]

Around the west coast box woods are seseptible to a disease that kills them.

[@bulebonsaibatam1758]

Good morning from Indonesia. Max

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Good morning Max!

[@OddBonsai]

Your boxwood is so nice and healthy. Do you have the boxwood leafminer in Canada? Where I live it's a big problem. I've lost mine because of them. The only way to get rid if them is using insecticide and you have to spray several times a year as the pest moth produces several generations of offsprings each year.

[@invertevision4757]

...hmmm, I may need to look into the leaf miner. Been having a small problem with my boxwood this season and for some reason I never thought about the leaf miner so thanks!

[@OddBonsai]

@@invertevision4757 It's the larvae of a moth and you can easily spot their presence by the webs they produce. Leafs and eventually entire twigs and branches will slowly start to look like they jusy dried up. It's a nasty pest and if your buxus has it I hope you can get rid of it fast.

[@bilgiguctur8317]

Rabbits seem to be a serious problem there! How come you can't protect your plants from rabbits? Looking from outside, I reckon a strong wire fence would solve the problem.

[@user-lb4mf6hx5u]

Hi Nigel! I was gifted one of those really thick ficus microcarpa last year and don't really know how to make it pretty. The tree was trunkchopped at a height of 4cm and the bottom looks a bit potato-y. Any ideas on how increase the height? I fear that growing an artificial trunk will thicken the base of the tree even more than before.

[@cramremherb2894]

In Germany our boxwoods are dying because of an invasive species called boxwood moth. One Season and an entire tree oder bush is gone.

[@romannikolaev7782]

What species of boxwood is this? I have a sempervirens and it is not winter hardy here in Finland.

[@Cameroncen]

Our 100 year old box woods suffered a disease that’s been spreading throughout the east coast apparently. Slowly dying off tragic

[@OddBonsai]

It's such a pity to loose old specimens like that. What is the disease that affects them?

[@jeef16]

how do you dig specimens up from your prebonsai garden without disturbing surrounding plants? I figure a small area with a lot of thick crossing roots, what's the game plan to remove the tree with as much root mass as possible?

[@arnoldmmbb]

Sprucy taste? I have to try it 😂

[@jaredhappy4177]

I wish I could bonsai

[@debbiej.2168]

Why not give it a try? You can start for no money growing from seeds, or cuttings.

[@jaredhappy4177]

@@debbiej.2168 I don't have a lot of space. I have planted a seed about a year ago. And it's doing awesome. Don't know if it's good for bonsai though. I might not be able to keep it, when it gets big. But I know someone that wants it. So at least I don't have to throw it out. Might get to see it grow, once in awhile. if he puts it in his front yard.

[@davidjohnson7508]

Still looking for a walnut tree? l dug one up this spring which has started budding out. For a bonsai or edible garden (take note of the toxic leaves) - its yours. Let me know if you want it for the best kind of price - none.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hello David, I'd be happy to have it! I have a lot of things to pick up now, the grass and the tree!

[@dragaumchineis5070]

Bom dia, Flor do dia!

[@martifish]

Do you get much ash die back in Canada?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, all the cities in Ontario removed and burned all the Ash trees, the ones that were inoculated seemed to die anyway. I think most of the large Ash are now gone. Hopefully the smaller ones will survive and we'll have Ash trees again in the future!

[@invertevision4757]

You don't need to dig them up every spring and root prune them. At least every 2-3 years though. Once you prune the roots, it's takes most trees the rest of that season to get established once again. You do this operation over and over every year, you will eventually kill the tree so it's best to go at least a season in between root prunings. You also need to let the trees harden off before doing this as well for optimal results. You would have so much faster development, letting the tree dictate 99% of it all, following and knowing the physiology does wonders. I know with them being in the ground then can tend to take this kinda work at this time in your area, but it is necessarily the best time...that what I'm getting at basically. Again, I love your channel but you show these applications at the wrong time...

[@austinmead5754]

Foist

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Mead like head or Mead like reed, never mind it's foist indeed!