Spring Pinching and Pruning Strategies for Bonsai
This week’s tutorial (published Thursday as usual) about spring pinching and pruning for Japanese maples, zelkovas, and oriental hornbeam bonsai is in the video library and stays there. Whether you’re nurturing mature, developed trees or young material, these techniques will help you create better bonsai. Here is a little more about spring, based on the video content, but be sure to watch the video to get an exact overview of the details explained.
Video available for Kisetsu-en members here: https://shohin-europe.com/bonsai-video-studio-2/pinching-and-pruning-strategies-in-spring/
Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum)
Mature Trees:
- Pinching: Begin pinching new growth as soon as it reaches 2-3 sets of leaves. This encourages bushy growth and prevents legginess. This is for trees needing a more compact growth.
- Pruning: Focus on removing thick, coarse branches that disrupt the tree’s harmony. Prune to maintain a balanced shape and avoid inverse taper.
Young Material:
- Pinching: Do not pinch the tips of new shoots to promote fine branching and compact growth. This is for later.
- Pruning: Lightly prune to shape the tree and remove any unwanted growth.
Zelkovas (Zelkova serrata)
Mature Trees:
- Pinching: Pinch new shoots when the first new growth has elongated on vigorous areas to improve branch density. Let weaker areas gain vigour.
- Pruning: Structural pruning is essential and can be done before the new growth starts to elongate. Remove excessive growth and thin out crowded areas.
Young Material:
- Pinching: Avoid pinching the new growing tips to encourage branching and back-budding. This if for mature trees.
- Pruning: Focus on selective pruning to shape the tree and balance its growth. Remove specific branches to improve the overall structure.
Oriental Hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis)
Mature Trees:
- Pinching: Pinch new growth to maintain a compact canopy and stimulate interior buds.
- Pruning: Prune twice a year—once at leaf drop in fall and again post-flush harden in late spring. This helps manage growth and maintain tree health.
Young Material:
- Pinching: As always with deciduous trees, do not pinch new shoots on young trees that need energy to build up strength and develop. Prune back late winter or autumn instead.
- Pruning: Light pruning in spring before bud growth helps shape the tree and manage its structure.
General Tips for Spring Care
- Repotting: Refresh the soil every 2-5 years to prevent root bound and nutrient deficiencies is a good rule, but always observe the trees.
- Fertilising: Provide adequate water, light, and nutrients to support new growth and development.
Monitoring: Regularly inspect your bonsai and adjust your pinching and pruning schedule as needed to maintain balance and proportion during the season.
