Okay, so I have two questions about two different bonsai but didn't want to make two posts. Me and my mother recently bought a bonsai each. I have one already, this is her first. We bought them because we�re planning on going to a wiring/shaping class that�s local and you need a tree to practice on! They were both potted in nasty wet slop, so we repotted them in Hoffman�s Bonsai soil. That�s why in the pic of the brush cherry, the base of the trunk is really icky. (No, it's not rotting, just very damp and muddy.) So, first question about mine. A brush cherry. As you can see in the picture, the trunk has no roots coming above the soil or anything. Also, the trunk at the very base is a bit narrower than the middle of the trunk. I have repotted it � before it was potted a bit deeper to hide that. I might follow suit and re-bury it a bit deeper� But first, my question. I have heard you can air layer the base to get more roots to grow. One page I was reading said to take a drill bit and VERY carefully by hand make a small divet in the very base of the trunk. Pack it with rooting gel (I have powder, I think either would work) and sink the divets RIGHT beneath the soil line. Said that this will prompt growth of roots, and then I would have the opportunity for some roots to be above the soil instead of a boring straight trunk the whole way. Could I do this with my cherry? The second question is about my mother�s very unruly Chinese Elm. We�re obviously going to wait till the styling class, but we thought we�d get some ideas beforehand. It�s strange in the sense that one side of the tree has NO branches on it. It�s rather flat. I was thinking we could either do a tiered style of bonsai (I can�t think of the real name, I�ll link an image of what I mean) or a windswept style, looking as if the wind was blowing toward the side with no branches. We will probably cut off the very topmost vertical branch at the top of the trunk, because the other branch serves as a good leader branch and continues the curve of the trunk.. But other than that we�ve never done this before and are looking for ideas. Any ideas for us? (Sorry the pics are phone quality!) Yes, one of the elm branches has nasty wire scarring. It had wire on when we bought it, we cut it off. We are not opposed to leaving that branch on if it would serve. I know it should be cut off, but neither of us are competing or anything � so I figured if she doesn't mind the wire scarred branch, it doesn't matter if it stays on if it can serve in styling. Thank you for any opinions you can give us! (And no, the kitchen table is not their final spot. Just here for repotting and picture purposes!) Here is a link that might be useful: This post was edited by cfox248 on Sun, Apr 6, 14 at 11:53

What about Taxodium mucronatum (montezuma cypress). There are some growing in Las Cruces and they grow fast. At least they do over here in Texas.

I vote for Fantex Ash. It goes dormant in winter. Not a single problem frost. It puts on slow to moderate growth, but is not invasive. Nice shade and a very beautiful symmetrical tree. Chinese evergreen ash is also nice. Small leaves but beautiful trunk and nice canopy. The drake variety is supposed to be a faster grower. Also goes dormant in winter and no probs with frost. Can't go wrong with either one.

A Chinese Elm is, by nature, a "Bullwinkle" tree. (I like your metaphor.) It's a spreading "canopy" or "umbrella" tree. It's a champion tree for shading a patio (albeit messy) or complementing a wide but short house. it's not meant to be a "lollipop". it takes work to make it such. "Cutting off the tops" (= "topping") of any tree is not a good practice. It's probable that your neighbors started their lollipop training early on, before large limbs developed. Once limbs get pretty hefty, cutting them off leads to many issues, including diseases, week structure and overall/general poor health. I know it sounds like an extreme recommendation, but I'd rather see you remove the tree and plant a tree that wants to be a lollipop rather than brutalize "Bullwinkle". Joe