Page 55 - Tài liệu Ebook cây cảnh Bonsai Basics

TRAINING BONSAI 57

Maintenance Pruning
This is at least as important as formative
pruning, since it also makes a day-to-day
contribution to the effort of producing a
bonsai of a particular style.
Maintenance pruning will vary, since
any tree could be pruned several times
during its growth. There are several
different pruning methods that suit dif-
ferent species and cultivars of trees and
you should follow the correct one.
In general terms, pruning for care and
maintenance is intended to restrict the
irregular growth resulting from the natu-
ral development of the tree. It is intended
When remoting whole leal·es, leave a small part of
to promote harmony between the trunk
the petiole, or leaf stem.
and the branches and their foliage, which
is essential to obtain a tree worthy of the
name bonsai. Pruning for care and main-
tenance is repeated throughout the
growing season to reduce the number of
new branches by disbudding, to reduce
the size of the leaves by trimming them
and to shorten the shoots to inhibit their
growth. This is an indication of the
amount of care bonsai require for a large
part of the year.
DEBUDDING: This type of pruning is
only for deciduous trees. Pinch the buds
out with your fingernails when the first
growth appears. This is normally done at
the beginning of spring, although it may
be done several times during the year on \\'hen clipping maple leal•es, always retain a small
some trees (e.g. elm, maple, hornbeam). part of the petiole.
When carried out repeatedly it produces
smaller leaves. The tree may be affected
to some degree and so should be fed
regularly with modest amounts of
fertilizer.
TRIMMING LEA YES: This mainly
concerns trees with broad leaves, like
chestnuts and oaks. Clip the leaves down
by a half in late spring. Leaves clipped
like this will drop off and be replaced
with smaller leaves during the summer.
Deciduous trees with small leaves can
have their leaves completely removed
(heavy pruning), the operation being
repeated several times in the growing
season. This is a radical practice which
The diagram shows how you would cut back
should only be carried out if the tree is branches to obtain a rounded or broom shape to your
quite healthy and vigorous. tree. Careful cutting wiU give a better shape.