My very first book, about 1970, said that collecting a tree was a several year project. First year, dig down and cut the tap root. Disturb as little of the root ball as possible. Next year, take a shovel and slice down into the root ball at three different places, cutting about one sixth of the root ball in each cut, so about one half total. Next year, come back and cut the other three places, and finally take it up out of the ground the next year.
Does anybody have the patience to do it this way?
What I do is in early spring dig it up and put it in a big container, cutting enough roots to make it fit. A year later cut the tap root. A year later put it in bonsai soil and cut a lot of the roots back. After several years, start thinking about training, bonsai pot, etc. It's still a multi year project.
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