This Trident maple was purchased as nursery stock in June 1990, and planted in the ground.

I had just retired and decided that I would take up Bonsai as a hobby. I had been interested for a long time especially as I spent a lot of time in Japan, but I was not based in the UK long enough to take up the hobby whilst I was working.

In 1992 I purchased Harry Tomlinson's book and there was an article in there which described how to use a Trident maple for a root over rock.
The top growth was cut off, and the tree was dug up out of the ground. The roots were washed out and all soil removed as can be seen in the photos above.