Assistance with bonsai-ing trees, please?

Question

ok, i have dug up two small trees i plan to bonsai... about... a week ago... about how long should i wait until i start working on them...? next spring...? they are in training pots right now.

the trees are:

a maple tree (sugar maple...? we have alot of those where i live)

and

the other, i think is a white pine...

also... since they are newly dug up, should i keep them in my basement this winter? it is unheated so they will still get their dormant time. we get a heck of alot of snow in the winter... so im not sure if they will be over-whelmed... =/

Answer 1

It would be a good idea to wait until at least next spring to start any training. Giving the trees time to settle into their new homes will allow them to be stronger and adapt to the training processes.

It should be ok to keep them outside this winter. Since you've dug them in the fall,they should have some time to establish before going completely dormant. I'd suggest you bury the pots right up to the soil in mulch or loose garden soil as that will protect them from hard freezing, but keep them in their natural environment.