How To Trim A Juniper Bonsai Tree
The side branches take up the most space on an overgrown juniper.
How to trim a juniper bonsai tree. Use sharp sterile pruning shears to trim branches and stems. A good tip for beginners when leaf pruning is to identify leaves growing in pairs and prune one from each of the pairs. Make sure that you occasionally trim back the root system of the tree to prevent it from growing too vigorously. Use pruning scissors or hand pruners which have shorter handles than loppers to shorten the branches to a junction where the branch splits.
Never rip or tear branches and stems. The buds are held between the tips of the thumb and forefinger and twisted sharply to make a clean cut. Trim the bonsai tree s roots accordingly. If you prune away disproportionately large leaves your bonsai will be forced to replace them with smaller more proportionate ones.
The juniper bonsai is generally a strong tree that also withstands aggressive pruning quite well. Prune dead branches or branches with little foliage. For more information check the defoliation page. Hosted by jason chan of eastern leaf.
He shows how the same cuts were applied to another tree and how the bonsai design will develop due to the cuts. In this video we give a quick update on a juniper tree in a 5 gallon can. This technique is also called nipping. Use the appropriate size cutter for the diameter of the branch you cut.
Do not trim the juniper like a hedge because the removal of all growing tips will weaken the tree and the cut will turn the needles brown. Jason discusses the reason why cuts were made last year and the new growth that emerged during that time. Complete each cut with a sharp angular cut to promote rapid healing. This technique ultimately leads to a reduction in leaf size and an increase in ramification.
Pinching by hand correct another method of bonsai pruning is defoliation which involves removing leaves of deciduous trees during the summer to force the tree to grow new leaves. The above ground and underground portions of your bonsai tree will need to be kept in relative proportion. When the foliage pads become too dense they must be thinned out with sharp scissors at the base. Cut back to the trunk right next to the joint with a concave cutter.
Usually pruning is done after a month of growth which starts in spring. The practice used for pruning juniper bonsai trees is known as finger pinching.