To me if the tree is nice and shows potential to you go for it. Part
of the fun and interest in bonsai is using different and/or
nontraditional material.

In answer to your question:

It would probably be best in late fall before winter sets in to dig it
up and pot it. The tree should be dormant and not subject to stress as
much. Doing it in early spring is okay too and it gives the tree some
time to recover by the next winter. I wouldn't dig it up in mid to
late summer as it's too hot then and not early enough in the year to
allow the tree to recover before winter sets in again. Good luck!

Layne

On 08 Sep 2004 20:23:12 GMT, (AJCarroll1019)
wrote:

iris,
why would a norway maple be useless for bonsai?