I'm a newbie with bonsai. I've fiddled with some Ficus, Hawaiian Umbrella and jade (P. afra...yeah, yeah...I know it ain't really bonsai but I like 'em.)
I have a volunteer Chinese elm growing in my back yard that has a trunk about 3-4 inches in diameter. There's some good movement in the thing and I think it could be a good bonsai project for me to fiddle with.

My question is what's the best way to dig it up? Do I need to do it gradually over time or can I just dig it out?

What should I do with it after I dig it up? Put it in a big tree pot to recover for a few years? Put it in the ground somewhere else after cutting the roots back some?
Put it straight into a bonsai pot?

Doc

Wait till next year spring, just before the buds pop. Then dig it up. Cut the roots back to side-roots and take off as much field soil as will drop off without hadling things roughly.. Plant in the smallest container that will hold the roots in a good draining substrate.. Then wait for spring. Leave it in there for at least 3 years to recover fully. Without knowing anything about the tree, it is hard to tell the rest.

Best you find someone in the area that has done this a few times succesfully, and ask for assistence. Digging up is tricky if you do not know what you are doing.

Ensure you have a sharp spade, large branch lopper (For the roots too!) and a saw at hand. Do not let the roots dry out,

Thanks Leatherback. Tell me what you mean by “side roots”

Doc

DogDoc wrote: Tell me what you mean by “side roots”

The ones that don't go straight down, or aren't big and long circling the inside of the pot.

Like branches, roots split into multiple roots. So if you cut one, make sure you do it at a point where it splits, keeping the smaller one. That helps in the recomver. Note that you cannot always do this. Which is why I would recomment doing this with someone experienced.

OK. Thanks gents.