Hi all,
I have the permission to dig out a European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) from a private estate.
It is about 1-1.5mt tall with a fine and beautiful ramification starting from as low as 25-30cm and a nice nebari, so it looks as if it has a great potential for a bonsai.

I have one question:
Should I chop it at 30-35 cm (leaving part of the branches that would then be used to model it) this year and then dig it out next year?
Or should I both chop it AND dig it out putting it into a big cultivation pot?

Many thanks!

I never chop down trees when colecting. Normally it has been more than a year between last big chop and colection. In some cases I have been choping the roots a year prior to colecting, makes it so much easier.

But for the "real" yamadories. Wild trees, one seldom have oportunity to do any pre collecting work.

Thanks Tropfrog.
In fact this tree is in the wild, as it grows in a wood with hornbeams, birches, field maples and chestnuts.
So you suggest to collect the tree, put it in a big growing pot and, one year later, chop it to start shaping it?
Is early autumn a good period for collecting it?
Or is it better now?
Thanks again!

Late winter or early spring is the best time. Colecting now will likelly kill the tree.

Also note that you should collect the tree just when the leaf buds start to swell up a little.