Hawthorn raft style Bonsai tree

This case study shows a Hawthorn found in a forest and trained into a raft-style Bonsai tree. Instead of digging the tree out after being found, it was initially chopped back and left to recover in the forest. About a year later the tree was found in a bad condition after being run over by a car; the root system was seriously damaged.

Picture one shows the tree after it was dug out and planted into pure sphagnum moss (with its pot left soaking in a shallow tray of water). A few months later, when the tree started growing again, it was planted in a container.

Picture 2: During the next spring the tree was planted at an angle in a growing field, in order to make it look like it was fallen over. About three years later the tree was fully recovered and dug out; after bare rooting it (clearing the roots from all the soil) a healthy root-system appeared.

Picture 3: Five years after being found, the tree was pruned regularly and a fine branch structure was created. The tree is 33cm (13.5’’) tall.

More information
Source: Harry Harrington (Bonsai4me.com)
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