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Steve and Hilary Brown
Wollaston Northamptonshire Tel :44 0 1933 665383 Email us: Click Here |
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This series shows a European Hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus) grown from hedging stock in the ground for approximately 6 years. As can be seen from the photograph to the left, the trunk up to the first branch is fairly un-interesting and straight. The proposed solution to this is to Air Layer the tree to use the best aspects of the top half of the tree. The half of the tree that is left in the ground at the end of the procedure can then be disposed of, or better still, left to grow more branches and styled into another Bonsai. The correct time to do this is in the spring as the buds are ready to open. |
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There are several techniques for Air Layering, but it is not the intention to describe them here. The chosen technique is perhaps best referred to as 'Ring Barking', where a complete ring of bark is removed from the tree at the position that the new roots are required to grow. The height of the bark ring should aproximately equal the trunk diameter, and it is necessary to remove all growth material back to the heart wood. If any Cambium layer is left intact, the tree may bridge the gap and new roots may not grow. The picture to the left shows the tree with the ring of bark already removed. When performing this bark removal use a very sharp knife, a scalpel is a good choice. |
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This picture shows the tree with a split plastic flower pot secured in place around the cut. The pot is suspended from a couple of pieces of aluminium wire to stop it slipping down the trunk. The pot is filled with Sphagnum Moss, and then wrapped with cling film. Sphagnum Moss will promote vigourous root growth very well, but remember to water the moss as you would water any other Bonsai. |
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Here the roots can be seen protruding from the
bottom of the pot, which is an obvious sign that the Air Layer is
probably ready to support the tree, and it can be removed from the
root stock by carefully cutting the trunk below the layer. Treat
the new roots with care as they will be very brittle and will break
if handled roughly. The picture also shows some of the extensive
green growth that the tree has put on in the time the roots have
developed. At this point the Air Layer is about 3 months old.
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The flower pot has been carefully removed to
reveal a mass of new root growth permeating the moss. Do not keep
the roots exposed this way for too long without spraying with water
to prevent drying out. Some of the moss is removed at this point,
and the remaining wooden stump is reduced in size to allow the tree
to fit in a pot.
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The tree is left in a sheltered spot away from wind and direct sunlight. Make sure it is kept well watered until it settles into it's new pot. | |||