Hello,
I'm absolutely in love with the yamadori bonsai, but still haven't got any. I can easily collect some in my property, I've got loads of woods around. What are the basic steps to take? What's the best period of the year to collect them? Do you build a big container with wood at the beginning with organic soil in it? Thanks to everyone who will share some info!

Can you post some pictures on the trees you have in mind?

stevehernan wrote: Hello,
I'm absolutely in love with the yamadori bonsai, but still haven't got any. I can easily collect some in my property, I've got loads of woods around. What are the basic steps to take? What's the best period of the year to collect them? Do you build a big container with wood at the beginning with organic soil in it? Thanks to everyone who will share some info!

The classic answer is to go out in the winter with a shovel and dig an arc about 90 degrees around it at a distance about the size of the destination pot, than repeat on the other side.  Come back the following winter and complete the circle.  Come back the third winter, dig down and cut the tap root. Fourth winter put it in a pot.

Cutting part of the long roots causes roots to develop while leaving existing roots to keep the tree alive.

Most of us probably risk something shorter than four years. 

Ivan Mann wrote:

stevehernan wrote: Hello,
I'm absolutely in love with the yamadori bonsai, but still haven't got any. I can easily collect some in my property, I've got loads of woods around. What are the basic steps to take? What's the best period of the year to collect them? Do you build a big container with wood at the beginning with organic soil in it? Thanks to everyone who will share some info!

The classic answer is to go out in the winter with a shovel and dig an arc about 90 degrees around it at a distance about the size of the destination pot, than repeat on the other side.  Come back the following winter and complete the circle.  Come back the third winter, dig down and cut the tap root. Fourth winter put it in a pot.

Cutting part of the long roots causes roots to develop while leaving existing roots to keep the tree alive.

Most of us probably risk something shorter than four years. 

Thanks for your answer. I got it.