Page 120 - Ebook cây cảnh Art of Bonsai

120 Creating your own bonsai

Thinning congested nodes

Third
branch
Mass of young First major
shoots caused branch
by pruning a
major branch

Second branch
is a vigorous,
young shoot

6

Third
branch
Keeping the downward
shoot helps improve
First branch the line and taper
of the main branch
Aim to keep just two
strong branches, to
create the main and
secondary lines

Second
branch
5 7 8

Assess congested nodes. Young or very 6 Select the shoots to retain. Here, Check the line and prune if necessary.
vigorous trees such as maples typically close examination reveals three Here, an attractive line and branch
respond to pruning by sending out a strong branches—two green older pairing has been created; the main
mass of new shoots below the pruned ones, and a vigorous red shoot—as branches will be defoliated and then
area. Often, multiple buds spring from well as several medium and weaker reduced to a more suitable length before
a single node; if they are left to develop shoots, all of which can be removed. they are wired. Don’t prune too hard at
it can cause inverse taper, in which the this stage: it is easier to bend a long
small section of the branch where all branch than a short one, and the tree
the secondary shoots are growing becomes 7 Assess the node again. With the can be pruned again after manipulation.
thicker than the branch below it. unwanted shoots out of the way, it is
easier to decide which shoots to keep.
In this example the third branch
appears to be growing in toward the
main trunk, so it is pruned out.