Old juniper

[JimJam35]

So my parents have a juniper at there house that has been there for at least 25 years or more. They are looking to remove it, wondering if I can take the tree out myself and start to train it for bonsai being so old and never trained before. Has a real nice thick trunk and looks like it has good movement that I can work with, just wondering if i can do this, when I should. Gonna post pictures when I can.

 

[M. Frary]

You should wait until spring if you can. You could pre dig by pushing a shovel into the ground all of the way around the shrub where you plan to dig. That way you cut off the ends of the roots forcing them to grow some closer to the trunk so it will have more toots when you do dig it up for real in the spring.

 

[sorce]

Im with M.Zilla. trench it now so all the fall toot growth can be dug next spring!

Even backfill with bonsai soil to make removal easier and toot growth better!

Toot toot.

Sorce

 

[Bill S]

Old Juni, Probably a little late for the predig trenching, the cold id just around the corner, unless it is a well protected spot.
Check Nick Lenz book, Collecting bonsai from the Wild, and build a big box to grow it in. May need a couple of friends too.