So far, so good. Getting past the first stage is the hardest. If it were
me, I'd leave the trees right where they are until the fall before
transplanting into a training box. At that time, examine the roots and, if
they have developed sufficient fine root hairs, they should be able to go
throught the winter without any trouble.
As for pruning, beeches have only one push of growth a year. The long,
complex buds will shoot out a series of leaves. To begin the training
process, remove all but two or three leaves from each cluster, making sure
that the out-most leaf is facing away from the trunk. During the season,
some of the remaining leaves will start to grow inward toward the trunk.
Remove those also. You will find that the leaves will grow quite large.
Don't try to clip them. As the trees mature and are replanted in bonsai
pots, they will grow somewhat smaller; but they never will be reduced to
finger nail size.
Good luck!
Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: "David I."
To:
Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2004 9:43 PM
Subject: [IBC] American Beech (collecting wild for bonsai)




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