This American elm was grown from a cutting I started about five years ago. It’s been entirely container grown. Two years ago I put it in this larger nursery container, with the idea of building trunk size. This happens faster in the ground, of course, but you can also do it (albeit more slowly) in a container. The use of a sacrifice branch is one of the best tools when container growing your trees for size.

Here it’s easy to see the future bonsai – the small tree – in this rather tall tree (almost four feet tall, to be exact). I’m after a smaller bonsai with this specimen, so there’s no reason not to chop it today and move it into the final stretch.

Always look for opportunities to improve taper and movement. I was able to cut the leader back to what will become the new leader.

Now some wire on the right-hand branch. It’s now in a better position.

I just got in this Lary Howard round the other day. The warm ochre tones will go beautifully with the fall color of the leaves.