I dug this monster zelkova up from my step-sons yard saturday. It took over 7 hours to dig-it and bring it home and pot it up. Most of the time was spent sawing through the huge root on the right side, my chainsaw broke a third of the way through and had to saw it by hand with a small handsaw. That was the first thing I did so the rest of the roots were untouched. Then dug it out of the concrete like dirt it was in. Sprade the root ball with a little water and drove home. Because I wanted to make sure there were enough roots I washed all the dirt off,and to make it lighter (200 pounds with dirt). Put it in the pot (27in.X24in.). The next day I tore off the dead bark and trimmed it down. It was drooping some, now it looks happy.

Now what I am going to do with this beast:
In a year or two, when it gets repotted, the masive root will be cut back some. The dead wood will get a rough carving, most likely with chainsaw after I get it fixed. And some pruning and possible wiring.

In about five years time I think I can make this thing look really good.
(crosses fingers)

Oh and the trees will be moved away from the firepit if I ever get to use it again, we are under fire restrictions.

That tree is awesome. Great potential. I can't wait to see it with leaves.

Thanks, it will be a while. I had to cut quite a bit off. But these things grow like weeds if you water them, so I think it will look o.k. by fall. I am going to keep this thread up to date with changes in it.

Good. Don't think you're posting too many minor details. I do it all summer. Starting with the first buds and end when it snows. I love reading over them in the winter.

awesome one there ... lance is right, its great to look back and see were it all started

Me too. That's why I take pictures of trees in the ground before I dig them up. I have pictures of about 70% of all my trees, before they were introduced to a container. Oh by the way the container this one is in came from my local home store. It's a mixing tub for concrete and such.

that has some really great potential!!i love it!!!

That looks like a fun tree to work on

Mighty Mouse thanks. I got big plans for a big tree.

Mwid, it will be now that the nitemare of digging it up is over. This thing has so much deadwood on it its a carvers dream. This will be the first tree that I will be doing any serious carving on. But that will have to wait for a year or two.

patience patience patience...............trims shrubs in front yard to take mind off monster

Digging can be fun hehe. If you dont want to do any mistakes maybe try carving on some some dead wool lying around.