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Making an Oak Bonsai

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  • čas přidán 16. 11. 2019
  • In this video we take a field grown Oak tree and turn it into a bonsai.
    To stay in touch visit
    Shop: www.herons.co.uk
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Komentáře • 588

  • @robertmitchell5689
    @robertmitchell5689 Před 4 lety +240

    What I like most about Peter Chan is he mixes traditional with innovative and the unconventional stressing that IF YOU like it then do what pleases you and ignore the criticism. I have learned so much from him and have done bonsai for almost 30 years, but was more traditional. I have changed my attitude and thinking considerably because of him. BRAVO!!!

    • @Luckma1
      @Luckma1 Před 4 lety +2

      you would love the videos from Walter Pall

    • @royfearn4345
      @royfearn4345 Před 3 lety

      Yes, I knew absolutely nothing, but already feel confident to have a go

    • @Lachlanrocca
      @Lachlanrocca Před 3 lety +7

      I really respect that you can adapt your ways even after 30 years of traditional bonsais. So many people become conservative and don't change because they think everything they've done before was wasted energy. Adapt, overcome and do exactly what feels right in the moment.

    • @kingstar2256
      @kingstar2256 Před rokem +1

      what a great comment! even after 30 years! you can still learn more... traditional bonsai methods have always been a little intimidating to me... but Peter Chan has inspired me to give it a go again! I love bonsai so much.

  • @jacquiland6467
    @jacquiland6467 Před 4 lety +28

    I have half a dozen oak bonsai in training and your video has been very helpful in understanding how much root pruning they can handle. A couple are 28 years old now and I got them as seedlings from my fathers garden after he passed away suddenly at age 59. He was from Portsmouth in England and having these trees makes his memory stay alive.😊

    • @Pimpmedown
      @Pimpmedown Před rokem +1

      do you mind making a video? simply in the state they are now - i know many people with forrests and am thinking about salvaging one young tree to try and make something out of it - so i know what i should look for maybe?

    • @pink43560
      @pink43560 Před 2 měsíci

      That’s amazing!

  • @mariapilarme
    @mariapilarme Před 2 lety +12

    I just love oak trees. I live in Northern California and in the park behind my house there are 300 year old oaks. There are huge and the branches come down to the ground to give shade to their roots. With temperatures 100 degrees or 40 Celsius on summer they don’t die. They are nature’s cathedrals! They are spectaculars!

  • @johndeopaduaART
    @johndeopaduaART Před 4 lety +286

    You know you have a lot of bonsai when you can say “ i stumbled around this beautiful oak” in your own field

    • @greenvilleobserver9431
      @greenvilleobserver9431 Před 4 lety +10

      Come to Upstate South Carolina, I have 38 large trees in my 3/4 acre backyard. 3 types of oaks, poplar, cedar, holly, maple, sweetgum, crepe myrtle, pine. the amount of seedlings that come up every year are astonishing.

    • @Hortifox_the_gardener
      @Hortifox_the_gardener Před 4 lety +11

      It's a tree nursery after all. It's like saying "you have a lot of cars" to a car dealer :D

    • @1caramarie
      @1caramarie Před 4 lety +4

      @@greenvilleobserver9431 I have 1/3 acre in Minnesota and I can't keep up with all the babies of my large oaks and sugar maples, that are about 100 years old.

    • @blameusa7082
      @blameusa7082 Před 4 lety +6

      @@greenvilleobserver9431 should come see my 12foot garden!!

    • @Riddlemt
      @Riddlemt Před 4 lety

      @@greenvilleobserver9431 Oh la la...

  • @BlueSkyBonsai
    @BlueSkyBonsai Před 4 lety +34

    I really love Englsih oaks ! As well as they two oak shoots that Peter dug out for me in November, I also took about 10 acorns from the massive tree in front of the nursery car park. Of those acorns, 8 are now growing beautifully. so I have ten English oaks well on their way to becoming future oak bonsai, thanks to Peter and Herons!

    • @KennetDeBondt
      @KennetDeBondt Před 3 lety

      I gave it a shot with acorns:
      czcams.com/play/PLLfXUppdVxvxDIz5zp9cmIBEJq0jjObXS.html
      grts
      K

  • @DarleneBoyd
    @DarleneBoyd Před 3 lety +6

    Thank you. Living in California I have wondered about making oak bonsai. This is perfect. We have about 300 species of oaks.

  • @thomaskitlica5572
    @thomaskitlica5572 Před 2 lety +7

    I love how you show us how to get big bonsai trees without waiting 50 years!

  • @mykorizzo6579
    @mykorizzo6579 Před 4 lety +29

    Thank you for including us Peter, I always love these seeing these mundane tasks

  • @MrFoai
    @MrFoai Před 4 lety +41

    You have very hardworking assistant. He loves to work with a bonsai master like you i think :)

    • @Digalog
      @Digalog Před 4 lety +1

      2 bonzai 4 senpai?

  • @purplemonkeyelephant
    @purplemonkeyelephant Před 4 lety +61

    Please tell Padmapriya hi from me. My name's Jack and I used to work in the health food shop with him. I watch your videos and what a coincidence to suddenly recognise him!

    • @HeronsBonsaiUK
      @HeronsBonsaiUK  Před 4 lety +41

      Hello Jack, I will certainly pass on your greetings to Padmapriya, I remember you too from the health food shop. So nice to see you here.

    • @Lachlanrocca
      @Lachlanrocca Před 3 lety +6

      Awesome! I love the coincidence!

  • @kelleymcbride4633
    @kelleymcbride4633 Před 4 lety +4

    The guy doing the pruning has a killer gig I'm jealous! 🌱🌿🌲🌿🌱

  • @TgWags69
    @TgWags69 Před 4 lety +38

    Thank you for showing us some of the more practical side. I would love to see more of this. Especially how you cut and develop the trunks of field stock like this.

    • @KennetDeBondt
      @KennetDeBondt Před 3 lety

      I gave it a shot with acorns:
      czcams.com/play/PLLfXUppdVxvxDIz5zp9cmIBEJq0jjObXS.html
      grts
      K

  • @Jake.44Mag
    @Jake.44Mag Před 4 lety +6

    Don't clean your gutters for awhile, you'll have all the little trees you want👍
    (Ps: I have a lot of respect for the talent this takes, before anyone thinks otherwise)

  • @billtyack2564
    @billtyack2564 Před 4 lety +19

    I just started bonsai you are the best teacher I've seen on here ive learning from you w every video
    Thanks so much

  • @mauldus
    @mauldus Před 4 lety +6

    I've always loved this art. The Japanese are in a class of their own. So much respect for their discipline.

  • @MrAlexander1955
    @MrAlexander1955 Před 2 lety

    I love all your videos.I'm 66, just start this lovely world 2 months ago, thanks to your videos.Greetings from Capri, a small island in Italy.ps,a big thank you to your assistant.

    • @howardmckeown7187
      @howardmckeown7187 Před 3 měsíci

      I'm 66, started 18 mths ago, now have over 30 trees, loving it, wish I'd started years ago🤔never had time

  • @sandy-rr1by
    @sandy-rr1by Před 4 lety +17

    nice to see your helper at work!

  • @maverickstclare3756
    @maverickstclare3756 Před 4 lety +14

    I do enjoy your preference for big bonsai, I wont live long enough to see my potted oaks get that size! They are the size of the second one.

  • @juliepayne2129
    @juliepayne2129 Před 3 lety +1

    I love your videos so much, I have been trying to do my own bonsai for the last few years, one is now getting long and sparse, so I will now be taking it out of its pot for the first time, it's 7yrs old. I'm going to cut it back, tease the roots and hopefully it will come back better than before. I don't find any of your videos boring, I'm now I'm my 40s but have loved gardening since my teens and adapting large plants and trees to pots as my gardens is small. My biggest problem has been the hot summers we've had here in the UK the last couple of years, our garden is fully south facing, the only shade coming from a hardy twisted willow but it doesn't give much shade. The last two summers hit my plants hard, especially my bonsai maples; burning the leaves and killing a lot of branches of my favourite one. I cut them back and 75% was saved but it's now lost its lovely shape. I've started watching your wonderful insightful videos and hope to make it into a better bonsai than previously. Many Thanks

  • @terencedixon2960
    @terencedixon2960 Před 2 měsíci

    Wonderful. Just the inspiration I needed for my oak projects. Thank you

  • @Kingloui10
    @Kingloui10 Před 2 lety +1

    Bout a year ago I picked up an oak tree seed amongst hundreds of seeds. Thought it looked cool and figure why not throw it it some soil.
    I paid it no mind since I planted it in one of my mother’s pots (since she waters her plants everyday). To my surprise I noticed a little plant sprouting months later.
    I was shocked the seed sprouted given the unfavorable conditions. Just soil and water with no prep work whatsoever. Really made me think a lot about life and it’s will to persevere.
    So here I am to prepare it for a long winter and hopefully a healthy and prosperous life.

    • @AyliCarper
      @AyliCarper Před rokem +1

      My son had put some acorns in a plastic bag one day we visited a garden somewhere. The bag got thrown in a coat cupboard. A year later I tidied the cupboard and there were two oak saplings bursting their guts out in the bag! Life is strong.

  • @ETOE
    @ETOE Před 2 lety

    Love this video. I found an oak 3 years ago in my garden as well. A squirrel brought it from the neighbours yard with massive several hundred years old oaks in it. Instead of wasting it for lawn I decided to put it in a pot and hope for a nice tree in 30 years as well.

  • @Death2unicorns
    @Death2unicorns Před 4 lety +5

    Loved that your doing a video on oaks. They're some of my favorites and don't get enough love in the bonsai world. Also the resolution looks much better in this video!

  • @lordforlorn9766
    @lordforlorn9766 Před 4 lety +4

    Oaks make lovely bonsai subjects. 😀

  • @robbybobby6483
    @robbybobby6483 Před 3 lety +1

    I love your nursery. What a great place to work. If you love plants that is, and I do.

  • @briankavanagh7191
    @briankavanagh7191 Před 4 lety +3

    Peter a lovely Oak with the chop becoming a feature, looking forward to seeing this tree in two/three years time.

  • @cldavis33
    @cldavis33 Před 2 lety

    The mundane and 'boring' work where all the details are to be found. Much appreciated in an instructional video! I was scared of bonsai roots my whole life until I see these videos. No more.

  • @jessestambaugh447
    @jessestambaugh447 Před 4 lety +2

    I would love to have that tree from Mr. Peter it's another one of his famous beautiful works of art Jesse

  • @rubber800
    @rubber800 Před 3 lety +6

    Love the oaks. I would hope to see more videos on the oak tree bonsais as there aren't many videos out there on them.

  • @haroldwilliams9722
    @haroldwilliams9722 Před 4 lety +7

    Again Thank You Master”P”
    You are the Man!!!🙏🏿

  • @Richard_FitPku
    @Richard_FitPku Před 4 lety +1

    ‘This pot looks a bit big, mmmm, but the tree will be more comfortable in this pot.’ That’s why i love this hobby. It can be seen to be brutal and harming, but experts down to the general hobbyist gain through this interest a greater respect for nature/trees.

  • @timdady4660
    @timdady4660 Před 2 lety

    I have just re watched this , as I do love Oaks, Wonderful tree and one I will look out for on my visit

  • @timdady4660
    @timdady4660 Před 2 lety

    I have two x 200 year old oak trees in my garden, from them I have now got 1x 5 year old ,just starting its first year of shaping and 7 that are 3 year old ,thickening up , 1 acorn from last year and surprisingly 1 that looks like the small one Peter showed at the end. thank you Peter

  • @couchpotatoesnotsoanonymou9913

    "can you do it single handed?"
    "yep"
    *uses head*
    11:30

  • @josephwatts2341
    @josephwatts2341 Před 4 lety +3

    I’ve been waiting for a video on this since I saved a young oak from our local park. Thank you very much for this!

  • @PlantObsessed
    @PlantObsessed Před 4 lety +1

    Thank you for showing this procedure. Many of us do this for our bonsai at home. First grow in the yard then to a pot. I enjoy seeing what they will do in 10 years if i take care. Happy Holidays!

  • @chrisnielsen5467
    @chrisnielsen5467 Před 3 lety +1

    On the topic of recording everything even the mundane... this is a video I have been hoping to find for quite some time and I was searching your channel for oak bonsai. So thank you for recording this moment!

  • @Alex-yl8dz
    @Alex-yl8dz Před 4 lety +11

    6:30 that "Oh is it" is such a perfect blend between your native accent and English

  • @eznakai
    @eznakai Před 4 lety +27

    Fabulously informative Peter! My favourite tree is my oak!

    • @alexandrecastagna9578
      @alexandrecastagna9578 Před 4 lety +4

      I start to develop oaks now that I have my two maples. I belive that Peter and me are connected because every time that I ask question to my self, Peter answer to it in a video fews days later... 😍
      Love you little tree lovers 🇲🇫

  • @marknorris9382
    @marknorris9382 Před 4 lety

    Brilliant tutorial video. Beautiful Oak. Mr Chan is so relaxing to watch and a great teacher. Thank you for sharing.

  • @MidniteSan
    @MidniteSan Před 4 lety +1

    Strong and healthy specimen, a splendid future bonsai indeed Peter..thx for sharing and can't wait for the next one..cheers

  • @rockybest3370
    @rockybest3370 Před 3 lety

    I have always loved bonsai, and this channel has pushed me to do my own, I have a ficus I got for 6 dollars and a red pine (which needs time to grow) for free. I’m also trying to propagate a Japanese maple from a cutting, which is proving to be quite difficult. I love the attitude of saving money and working with what you have 🙏

  • @craigadams2212
    @craigadams2212 Před 4 lety +6

    Thank you Peter - I am planning on starting an Oak off for my first grandchild expected In March and you are and continue to be the inspiration I need

  • @thebonsaiprojectkernow
    @thebonsaiprojectkernow Před rokem +1

    I first watched this video way back in March when I developed an interest in bonsai,watching again now as I have successfully germinated 3 or 4 oaks

  • @xavierlcq4944
    @xavierlcq4944 Před 4 lety +2

    so many thanks from France for you videos !

  • @DarleneBoyd
    @DarleneBoyd Před 2 lety

    Thank you. Living in California we have many oaks and I found some seedlings by a water faucet drain, with lots of debris. Some still have their acorns attached. I am excited to see what you have done. I am most grateful to learn that one does not use akadama for all trees, as I have been having more success with our native soil and mixing it with peat in some cases. Yes, I really appreciate the dedicated boring maintenance "stuff".

  • @markl4112
    @markl4112 Před 4 lety +2

    Thanks for this video! It always amazes me how rough you can be with these plants.

  • @fredgrech1498
    @fredgrech1498 Před 4 lety +3

    Thanks for sharing peter just beautiful

  • @eljotaeme1516
    @eljotaeme1516 Před 3 lety +1

    Peter Chang, you are the biggest bungler what I have seen in my life

  • @ecowolf228
    @ecowolf228 Před 4 lety +1

    It might be mundane for these guys, but this is teaching me how to do it better myself. Thank you for sharing.

  • @psyche8
    @psyche8 Před 3 lety +21

    It's a year later now, have you got an update?! Would love to see another year's growth on this and what you've done this year.

    • @denversmart6476
      @denversmart6476 Před 2 lety +12

      Yes 2 years later, I want to see it now too

    • @razor2ts
      @razor2ts Před rokem +3

      Yes Peter let's see this tree today? Is it still alive?????

  • @connydonne3347
    @connydonne3347 Před 3 lety

    Dera sir, hier vanuit België, willen wij u feliciteren met de prachtige bonsai s die u maakt, u heeft ons al veel geleerd, en we proberen zo goed mogelijk om zelf een bonsai te maken, dank je wel om zoveel kunst te tonen , wij maken een diepe buiging voor u, dank je wel, groetjes uit België, Conny

  • @bonsaihigh
    @bonsaihigh Před 4 lety

    I dont get why people would criticize about the shaping of your trees. They look amazing!

    • @peterchan3100
      @peterchan3100 Před 4 lety +2

      The bonsai police and the jealous people. Ha Ha ( I know who they are!!)

    • @bonsaihigh
      @bonsaihigh Před 4 lety

      @@peterchan3100 😂😂😂

  • @thierryf67
    @thierryf67 Před 3 lety +1

    Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. You make me more confident to grow my trees, from wild seebling found in garden or forest nearby.

  • @ruthieonline
    @ruthieonline Před 3 lety

    Despite the surely often difficult work, it must be a very satisfying feeling to work with such beautiful creatures. Happy who is allowed to do such a job.

  • @steveanacorteswa3979
    @steveanacorteswa3979 Před 4 lety +1

    That is one beautiful tree, you never know and I guess that is the excitement of Bonsai.

  • @user-xq9rd2vs6m
    @user-xq9rd2vs6m Před 3 měsíci

    Hello from the Jersey Shore ! What a great project thanks for sharing your expertise and creativity with us ! I am always on the lookout for trees just like this oak, growing between fences, or mixed in with the brush !

  • @oldmanfromscenetwentyfour8164

    I've run across more than a few oaks that I now have a reason to dig up. Thanks!

    • @Digalog
      @Digalog Před 4 lety

      the bandicoot and the bensai are well farned together in the behowers of banshast, rriight?

    • @howardmckeown7187
      @howardmckeown7187 Před 3 měsíci

      @@Digalog yep

  • @Teabeepea
    @Teabeepea Před rokem

    I love it. I have a baby sapling oak and this makes me hopeful

  • @BassPotter46
    @BassPotter46 Před 2 lety

    Fabulous Mr. Peter!

  • @HitmanEvz
    @HitmanEvz Před 10 měsíci

    Thank you! I will wire my sprout too 👍
    Starting a new oak bonsai

  • @GenderSkins
    @GenderSkins Před 4 lety

    I like what you are doing, as you explain quite a bit about Bonsai trees and their needs. I also like that you are not so doing so much sculpting of the tree's, that involve carving and burning the trees like another CZcamsr I saw. As I started two silk fan tree's from seed, about 3 years ago and have been learning with them. So your video's are helping me to understand a little more about how to care for the tree's. So thank you for that. And I like that you are working with tree species, like Oak's which grow naturally around the area where I live as does Cedar, pine, Box Elm and a few others.

  • @danielcarter8390
    @danielcarter8390 Před 4 lety

    Thanks peter and friend for a lovely video on the oak godbless

  • @mountain-roots
    @mountain-roots Před 2 lety

    What a pleasure to learn from such a joy to see the transition

  • @SelaciousCrumb
    @SelaciousCrumb Před 2 lety

    Really inspiring. Thank you for showing that you can adapt and some rules can be amended.
    I'm planning to have 2 outdoor oak bonsai from the acorns of and ancient oak my late father loved. I plan to nurture these bonsai and have one for myself and one for my brother so we can bring new life in his memory

  • @papajeff5486
    @papajeff5486 Před 4 lety

    Would enjoy seeing this oak a couple years later. Thank you for this lesson. Texas

  • @Philip-wv3wq
    @Philip-wv3wq Před 3 lety +8

    I'd love to work for Peter, the amount you could learn would be fantastic

  • @mangeshthawre416
    @mangeshthawre416 Před 4 lety +2

    Wow thats a large tree, too good 👌👌👌

  • @1caramarie
    @1caramarie Před 4 lety +10

    Nice. I have about a few thousand baby oaks from two years ago, when my white oaks went insane. I have gotten rid of a few other thousand, or at least it seems that way. I can now try practicing making a few oak bonsai. I live in the US, in Minnesota.

  • @franklotion8
    @franklotion8 Před 4 lety

    Those are the best gloves ever!! Perfect all around uses👍👍

  • @carlawilliams5132
    @carlawilliams5132 Před 3 lety +1

    gorgeous!!

  • @Transportia
    @Transportia Před 4 lety +1

    Also: wonderful that their nursery is thriving despite so much flyover from Gatwick.

  • @noneofuourbusiness
    @noneofuourbusiness Před rokem

    Peter i just got a red oak and a red maple the other day. I appreciate every video you do and your knowledge is great... Bless you sir

  • @bkay4781
    @bkay4781 Před rokem +1

    Thank you for making these videos.

  • @meenapatel2069
    @meenapatel2069 Před 2 lety

    Excellent demonstration on how to work with a Bonsai. I am in the process of doing an oak Bonsai hence researched and you came about 👍🏽

  • @hobbyscape4433
    @hobbyscape4433 Před 4 lety +3

    I’m still yet to add an Oak tree in my Bonsai collection. Such a beautiful and majestic tree... the Oak. Thanks for sharing

  • @rickthomas6348
    @rickthomas6348 Před 3 lety

    These guys have an incredible eye for detail, amazing.

  • @angie3504
    @angie3504 Před 4 lety

    I admire the work of you and your colleague... hats off to you guys 🎩

  • @guysolis5843
    @guysolis5843 Před 2 lety

    Good video. Makes me want to get back into the hobby once I get moves. Squirrels ruined a lot of what I had before but I was waiting for Heron's helper to say "Yes, master" like Igor in Young Frankenstein but Heron's helper sure looked like he knew what he was doing! I bought a house in Colorado that was attempting to flourish in the middle of the lawn. After a few years I noticed it, dug it up and it sprang to life. It was short and stout and interesting..

  • @wood-youknowit
    @wood-youknowit Před 4 lety +1

    Again, a very good demonstration and many tricks, thanks.

  • @FloridaDreamHouse
    @FloridaDreamHouse Před 2 lety

    Would love to see this tree again in a future video.

  • @paulsolleveld9238
    @paulsolleveld9238 Před 2 lety

    I love you're bonsai video's from the Netherlands

  • @barrykerr7995
    @barrykerr7995 Před 3 lety

    lovely, a real pleasure to watch an artist at work.

  • @helpmehelp3009
    @helpmehelp3009 Před 4 měsíci

    Your assistant must have been with you a long time he knows your quirks and does so well in taking your very detailed instructions!

  • @emme8255
    @emme8255 Před 4 lety +1

    Very nicely done, your like a johnny apple seed of miniature tree ART

  • @wilsonia1000
    @wilsonia1000 Před 3 lety +4

    The oak behind our house had a Mast Year last year (2020). I conditioned 24 acorns in the fridge over winter and now have 18 oaks (+1 the squirrels forgot about) growing in containers. I'm looking forward to working on them in the years to come.

  • @Justme-Diana
    @Justme-Diana Před 2 lety

    That is a gorgeous tree

  • @bensmith2194
    @bensmith2194 Před 4 lety +4

    Thank you so much for posting this I was just wondering how an oak would do as bonsai. Very good!

  • @Maumau369
    @Maumau369 Před 2 lety

    got my first oak yamadori today love it. Thanks alot for your videos I appreciate it alot and learnt so much already. Please never stop :(

  • @diffraction163
    @diffraction163 Před 4 lety +1

    im glad that a master gets help. love your channel :)

  • @cision5007
    @cision5007 Před 4 lety

    Your videos bring me so much joy.

  • @PickleJar251
    @PickleJar251 Před 3 lety +1

    Sweet now to go collect all of the oak and pine saplings around my yard lol

    • @snowpeaky
      @snowpeaky Před 3 lety +1

      I'll take one hah. I've been looking everywhere when I go hiking/walking to find an Oak sapling :D

    • @PickleJar251
      @PickleJar251 Před 3 lety +1

      @@snowpeaky funny enough just found 5 today that sprouted from acorns

    • @snowpeaky
      @snowpeaky Před 3 lety

      @@PickleJar251 Ah no way! Lucky you! :)

  • @alvoefc801
    @alvoefc801 Před 3 lety

    Can't wait to see more oak bonsai

  • @Patrick_PD2ET
    @Patrick_PD2ET Před 3 lety

    wOw !! Nice huge small oak tree😊👍and a nice video !!!
    i have also an oak tree in a pot ..i found it in my garden 1 year ago .. and now there come new buds .. so it did survive the winter.. i do like it so much!!! ❤💚❤

  • @leslieblackshear802
    @leslieblackshear802 Před 2 lety

    Thankyou for sharing this amazing tree. Love the videos

  • @jaxszeszko5291
    @jaxszeszko5291 Před 2 lety

    Everything about what you do is amazing

  • @bluetoad2001
    @bluetoad2001 Před 4 lety +3

    excellent. i studied with John Naka. this brings back memories. thank you

  • @Alypinkflower
    @Alypinkflower Před 4 lety

    Nice n a good assistant too

  • @MF-fc5vk
    @MF-fc5vk Před 4 lety +1

    BEAUTIFUL TREE. I've put 2 in the ground this year, now I wait. Thankyou.

    • @sgtzeno
      @sgtzeno Před 4 lety

      Don't forget to chop off the top five years ago.

  • @adamgm84
    @adamgm84 Před 3 lety +7

    When I'm unsure if the tree likes this, he goes ahead and says "these beautiful, fine roots" "it's quite safe to do this".