| i - Pruning, The Primary Art | | | | common for some deciduous trees and bushes, |
| Since bonsai are grown from ordinary, not dwarf, | | | | such as a ficus. Carried out in mid-summer, you |
| species, their small size is primarily the result of | | | | simply remove half of the leaves with a pair of |
| pruning, both branches and roots. | | | | fine scissors. Leave the stems intact. |
| Though much learning and experience is required | | | | Pruning leaves and branches is carried out |
| for proper soil preparation, watering and other | | | | primarily to shape the final result to the desired |
| needed skills, no other aspect is so critical for | | | | look. Root pruning, which should be carried out in |
| making the bonsai more than just a small tree. It's | | | | concert with a branch pruning regimen, affects |
| the key to making it a fine work of art. | | | | the basic health of the tree. |
| Before even pulling the shears from the drawer, | | | | Pruning branches and leaves will affect root |
| it's best to start with a conception of the final | | | | growth. Fewer leaves and branches means less |
| goal desired. Hand-sketching or gardening | | | | for the root system to supply with water and |
| software can be a big help here. Create a vision, | | | | nutrients. Heavy branch pruning will slow the |
| on paper or monitor of what you want the final | | | | growth of the root system. |
| result to look like. Then you can begin to develop | | | | Nevertheless, roots should be examined at least |
| the proper techniques. | | | | every two years. Depending on the age and |
| 'Finger pruning' is at the top of the list of skills | | | | species, and the size of the pot, roots can be |
| needed. For Junipers and Cedars and other | | | | become root bound. Though roots will naturally |
| conifers, this involves pinching new growth off | | | | curve somewhat inside the soil, when they |
| wherever shaping and eliminating is carried out. | | | | encounter a hard obstacle such as the side of the |
| Simple in theory, just support the tree or branch | | | | pot, they curve inward. Eventually they have |
| with one hand and take the new growth between | | | | nowhere else to go as more roots occupy the |
| your thumb and forefinger in the other. Remove | | | | available space. |
| with a sharp twist, but avoid pulling on the branch | | | | Before that happens, they should be trimmed |
| or tree. | | | | with very sharp scissors. Trim back existing roots |
| It will take some practice to be comfortable with | | | | to about two-thirds their current length, eliminating |
| the technique. Rather than damage a valued | | | | a few younger and a few older roots. Be sure to |
| bonsai, gain some familiarity first by performing it | | | | leave ample number and length. Re-pot into a |
| on a small bush. Once you can remove the | | | | larger pot for larger and older trees. |
| growth cleanly without tugging on the plant, you're | | | | Proper pruning times are dependent on species, |
| ready to use it on your bonsai. | | | | but you can take the full-sized species as a |
| For deciduous trees, such as Maples, the Chinese | | | | guideline. Some are pruned at the start of growing |
| Elm or others, scissor tip pruning is best. Trim the | | | | season to stunt growth, others at the end in |
| new shoots back to your imagined point based on | | | | order to leave less prior to the dormant period. |
| the sketch. Leaf pruning or defoliation is also | | | | |