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  • 10 min read

    Introduction

    I was part of a small bonsai exhibition at a local shopping centre on Heritage Day, organised by a friend Francois Voges. There would also be public demonstrations and I was asked to do one of them. This content of this post is from the demonstration which I did and the images were very kindly captured by Jan Jurie Loots so I can share them with you today.

    The hackberry before any work

    Image caption. The Hackberry just after I purchased it.

    In 2012, I came into the possession of this Celtis sinensis or Hackberry. These are very commonly available throughout South Africa and they make very good bonsai. This tree presented a design challenge but after much consideration I decided I would make a broom styled tree out of it. So about a year or two after I had acquired the tree I removed a major portion of the trunk, placed the tree into a bonsai container with a better growing medium and allowed it to gain strength.

    Chosen front for this hackberry broom styled bonsai

    Image caption. Chosen front for this Hackberry as a Broom style.

    You will note the trunk chop I did was not shaped at all, nether was it done 'flush' with the existing branches. It was however well sealed and was neatly cut with a sharp pull saw. From my experience with field growing trees I have found that it is better to do a rough cut and allow the tree to dieback to where it wants. Once this has been completed in a season or so, then I will go back and shape the cut properly to prepare it as best as possible for healing over.

    One sided root development

    Image caption. The single surface root on the tree currently. For the remainder the tree appears to rise out of the ground like a light pole.

    The challenge

    The main problem with this tree was that the nebari or surface roots were virtually non-existent, other than a single surface root (You will note from the very first image that there is in fact another root which was buried when I potted it). So it gives the impression of a light pole in my opinion. One characteristic about good broom style bonsai is that they have great nebari. The roots must all emerge at the same level and they must radiate out from the trunk in all directions. This gives the impression of an old tree, firmly anchored to the ground. So I knew when I decided on broom style that I would have to do something about the roots.

    There are several ways in which one can remedy problems with roots:

    1. Approach grafts. This is where a rooted cutting or seedling of the same species is placed in a groove created in the main tree, or tightly against it and secured in place. After some time the two fuse. Repeating this procedure many times allows you to create roots where there were none before.
    2. Thread grafts. Here a rooted cutting or seedling is passed through a hole drilled into the tree. As the hole heals and the cambiums of both come into contact they fuse and once again roots are created.
    3. Layering. This is where the stem is ring barked, rooting hormone applied and rooting medium is placed over the area into which roots can grow. It is probably the most commonly used technique to create superb deciduous bonsai, especially shohin sized trees.

    It is method 3 which I selected and will blog about now. The other two are methods I use frequently but they are certainly more time consuming where layering could within 1 season dramatically alter the appearance of the tree.

    Timing

    Before we proceed I guess I should also say something about the timing of this procedure. I have only ever done layering more or less in the middle of spring. More accurately, when the new leaves are just hardening off (becoming more leathery and usually a darker green). To me this makes the most sense as the sap has moved to the upper areas of the tree from the root zone and the tree is loaded with energy which will place it in the best possible condition to survive the technique and issue the maximum number of roots. I am sure there are other times of the year to perform the technique, and no doubt the tree species will play an important part of that. The best is to experiment or speak with someone who is experienced and can guide you. Remember also that I reside in the Western Cape where we have a winter rainfall so your local climate may also dictate to you when you may proceed.

    Once you have decided to layer there is no turning back

    I should point out that once this technique is tried there is no going back. Regardless of how much bark you remove; whether you remove only portions or completely ring bark the tree, if roots do not develop your only recourse is to try again another year but you cannot style the tree as normal again as it will have terrible scarring. Bear this in mind before you decide to layer the best tree in your collection!

    Marking out the cuts

    Image caption. Marking the tree with a marker to determine the line at which I want roots to emerge and by default where the future soil level will be.

    The how

    In this example the tree is vertical and I wish to keep it as such however when you layer you can change the angle of the tree completely simply by angling the cut when you remove the bark. As it is advisable to first check that your angle is correct to what you have in mind its a good idea to first draw a line around the trunk at the angle you require and then stand back and check that its correct.

    You will need to make 2 cuts. The top cut is where the roots come out and the bottom cut determines how much bark you will be removing. The amount you need to remove will be determined by the species you are layering. In Chinese maples, as they have a tendency to heal over very well the cut needs to be very broad to prevent callous from healing the area and preventing root formation. I must admit to not having much experience with layering Celtis but I will also remove a broad band of bark - roughly equal to the thickness of the trunk. To play it safe you can also remove 'windows' of bark instead of ringing it completely, some species require this as they cannot survive otherwise however in others doing so will simply see the removed areas healing over.

    Making the cuts

    Image caption. Using a sharp blade (in this case a grafting knife) to make a deep cut through bark and cambium.

    It's important that you use very sharp implements such as a cutting blade or a grafting knife as the cuts must be made very cleanly or you risk crushing the plant cells and this risks root formation. Be very careful when using these tools now as you will need to exert considerable pressure to cut through the bark. Make sure you position your hands out of danger.

    Removing the bark

    Image caption. Removing a complete ring of bark.

    Make a deep cut along the lines as you have drawn them and then remove the ring of bark all around the tree. At this time of year, mid spring, sapflow is pretty much at its peak and so you should find that the bark separates easily from the hardwood below. The exposed area will be wet with sap in fact. It is very important that you remove all traces of cambium, the thin green layer which is found just below the bark. If you don't the tree will not issue roots as it has no need to as you have left the means for it to transport nutrients and moisture.

    Making V-cuts

    Image caption. Making V-cuts using a chisel to increase the surface area of the cambium

    After removing the bark you may wish to make V-cuts into the top ring. This essentially doubles the surface area from which roots will emerge. In my experience it seems also to result in more even root distribution around the trunk as I think energy is directed into these V's, get trapped and roots are created. However I am not a botanist or anything of the sort so I might be talking total nonsense. I also think it might have something to do with the V's trapping the rooting powder better, preventing it from being washed away when you water. Whatever the reason, making these V incisions can only help. I use a sharp V-shaped chisel but you can also use a knife.

    Applying rooting hormone

    Image caption. Applying rooting hormone to the live tissue.

    After you have made the V-cuts all round it is time to coat the living tissue with rooting hormone. These hormones will assist the plant in producing roots and greatly increases your chances of success. There are many rooting hormones on the market today but I recommend Dynaroot 3

    Dip a soft brush into the powder and dab it onto the edge of the top cut. Make sure you get it into all the corners so that it is properly coated. You may want to drip your brush into some water and make a paste of the hormone. 

    Mesh retainer for growing medium

    Image caption. Creating a retaining wall of mesh in which to place your rooting medium.

    Using drainage mesh make a retainer into which you can throw your rooting medium. The holes will allow water to rapidly drain from the medium and will promote exchange of oxygen, which is what you need to promote fast root development. It is not necessary to secure the mesh retainer to the surface but you can if you like.

    Filling with growing medium

    Image caption. Fill the mesh with medium till just below the top cut.

    The rooting medium which you use can be made up of pretty much anything. The main criteria is simply that it must be coarse to allow a lot of oxygen exchange and it must not be too wet as this will slow root development. It of course should retain some water or you are going to have to wet it too often.

    For my mix I have used LECA, Groperl and Peat. If you want something already mixed you can use my professional mix.

    Such a mix will not compact, its coarse so will provide lots of gaps where the medium can be aerated and the small organic component will retain some moisture.

    Fill your mesh retainer with your medium, which should be on the dry side to make it easier to work with, and keep filling until just below the upper cut which you have made. At this point stop.

    Inserting a ring to encourage horizontal root development

    Image caption. Place a ring, I cut mine from an ice cream container lid, around the trunk.

    Prepare a ring as depicted in the photo above. The purpose of this ring is to cause the new roots to grow horizontally and then down. This first curve of the roots is rather important so it is worth taking some trouble at this stage to ensure you shape them as best as possible. Its not all that important what the ring is made from, I used the lid of an ice cream container cut to the shape I wanted. You can use anything really, it just needs to be flat and cut roughly to the shape you need.

    If you decide not to do the ring, you can possibly correct the roots later after you have separated the layer, by screwing a flat piece of board to the underside which will force any roots growing down into a horizontal position. However roots can break in this way so there is a little risk associated with doing it later.

    Completing the layer

    Image caption. Fill the mesh to the top with more rooting medium

    You can now go ahead and fill the mesh with the remainder of your medium till the brim. Move the tree to a sheltered spot out of the wind and preferably under some shade cloth. Lightly water the rooting medium but not too heavily or you will wash away the rooting hormone you applied so carefully earlier on.

    Aftercare

    For the first while it is recommended that you check on your medium to see how rapidly it dries out. You can then adjust your watering accordingly. You don't want to keep it wet but it must never be allowed to dry out either. If it does get too dry, any roots which may have developed will very quickly shrivel up and die without you even knowing it. The tree might attempt to push more roots out or it may not.

    After about 3 months or perhaps less, you should see signs of roots against the side of the mesh. The roots will grow out towards the edge of the medium and then stop when they reach the edge, and they will develop no further in that direction. Unlike layers wrapped in plastic what happens now is very interesting. Rather than circle the interior of a plastic bag new roots will emerge from the trunk. So I have found layers done using mesh result in much more roots than using other methods. 

    When you have been able to determine that there are indeed roots you might wish to begin fertilizing lightly with something like BonsaiBoost. In my years of experience using all manner of fertilizers I have never found any fertilizer which comes remotely close to encouraging as much root development as BonsaiBoost does.

    When to separate

    How long you wait before separating the layer will depend on the species which you are layering and also how patient you are. Some species can be separated only a few months after layering but I play it safe and wait till the following repotting season, in other words the following spring. I find that by then the roots have matured a little and are not as fragile making them easier to work with.

    Without saying too much, essentially after separating the layered tree you will treat it the same as any other bonsai tree in your collection. The bottom part of the original trunk can sometimes be used to create another tree with, especially clump styles.

    Image caption. Field grown Chinese maple with ugly roots, before layering.

    Image caption. A season after the layering was separated.

    Fast forward a year and carry on reading about this Hackberry layering and whether I was successful with it or not.

    10 Responses

    Terry
    Terry

    January 27, 2016

    1. Well within reason, don’t dilly dally. Have all that you need ready and work as quickly as you can in a sheltered spot.
    2. The cells are damaged yes but this is why using sharp implements and finishing with a grafting knife is so important.
    3. I don’t make any effort to keep these edges moist. Just get in, do what you need to do and then you’ll be fine.
    4. In the article I mention and you can also read a similar article where I used a trident maple. The spring leaves should have hardened off. In other words the initial sap which was in the roots has flowed up into the tree. Doing it before then will essentially cut this off.
    5. I would do it immediately as the tree will have a lot of built up energy from growing in the ground.
    6. Thats a good idea. I think that would be a better solution. Although I have not done this myself I think it would be a good approach.
    Thanks for the questions John. The Zelkova sounds great. Good luck with the ground layering, I’m sure it will be successful.

    John T
    John T

    January 27, 2016

    1. Once the bark is cut through – perhaps even the first initial ring cutting around the tree – should I work quickly after that cutting? Really fast?

    2. Are the cells damaged by the cut and a quick die-off begins at that sap area where the cut was made?

    3. Should I keep the cut area, where the new roots will form and also below which will be the top of a new stump, relatively moist while finishing any cutting scraping and cleaning?

    4. Is there any type of timing of the layer procedure you can explain that might be helpful?

    Another set of questions related.:
    5. If a Zelkova tree is dug from the open ground and moved to a growing box…can the ground layering be done immediately? Should ground layering wait until the next Spring (assuming healthy growth in the container)

    6. Would it be better to just leave the Zelkova tree in the open ground and ground layer it right there? Then, once roots have established, cut it from the ground stump and move it to a grow box?

    Thanks for an awesome article and visual documentation. My Spring ground layering being discussed will be on a Zelkova with a trunk about 2 1/2" diameter and a soil to tree top height of about 24". The tree grows on a ceramic floor tile and has been shovel cut around the perimeter about every other year. The tree is healthy. I am planning on the procedure of moving from ground to container, back to ground and then again to a container.

    Terry
    Terry

    January 04, 2016

    Yes Joe, it can be placed into bonsai growing medium immediately.

    Joe
    Joe

    December 31, 2015

    Hi Terry. Can an air layer, after rooting and being severed from the mother tree, be planted directly into bonsai media?

    Terry
    Terry

    December 05, 2015

    Joe I have never seen a layered olive. At least not that I am aware of anyways. I don’t however see why they would be difficult to layer. When we collect olives from the veld they are literally sawn off at the base and have no roots whatsoever, however they survive and go on to be wonderful bonsai. It might be that you need to get the timing just right and use the correct rooting medium – something fast draining works best. I would imagine when they are growing strongly will be the best time, but I’ve never done it so I cannot be sure.

    Joe
    Joe

    December 05, 2015

    Hi Terry, have you ever had any experience with air layering an olive tree. I read elsewhere that it is difficult to air layer. What is the reason for this?, and is there any other techniques used to layer olives? Thanks.

    Terry
    Terry

    September 29, 2015

    Thanks Bill. I have actually never tried layering an acacia neither have I seen one layered. This does not mean it cannot be done though! I know acacia don’t have a strong root system so I would definately use rooting hormone. Don’t try it on your best tree please. If you do attempt a layering don’t use the General Bonsai Soil rather use the Professional mix as it is faster draining and will produce better roots. Please let me know how it goes, I’d be keen to know.

    Bill Rayner
    Bill Rayner

    September 29, 2015

    A great article. Informative and very well illustrated.
    Can I use the technique illustrated on a paper bark Acasia. . Should I use “Bonsai Tree” potting soil?

    Terry
    Terry

    September 29, 2015

    Glad you have gained some information from the post Dorian. Glad you are prepared to be patient and wait till the tree fully recovers. Perhaps you can use this season to feed like crazy so it is nice and strong next spring when you layer it.

    Dorian
    Dorian

    September 29, 2015

    Thanks so much for that very informative piece.

    I have a Celtis Africana that I am looking at Air Layering too so as to shorten the trunk and to improve the Nebari. I will definitely be using the information that you have provided. I will unfortunately have to wait till next year as a cold spell killed off all my new buds and it has only now started to recover and shoot new buds.

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