Page 56 - Tài liệu Ebook cây cảnh Bonsai Basics

58 TRAINING BONSAJ

CUTTING OR PINCHING BACK
SHOOTS: The most important mainte-
nance operation on bonsai, since the
quality of the tree's foliage largely de-
pends on this. Pinching back helps pre-
serve shape, by inhibiting the natural
exuberance of the gro'vvth. The method
may differ from one species or cultivar to
another, depending on whether the tree
is deciduous or a conifer.
PINCHING BACK DECIDUOUS
TREES: How often this is done depends
on the growth rhythm of the tree. For a
maple, it will be repeated several times in
the season, whereas a hawthorn may
1. The luxuriant foliage of this Ze/kova serraw
needs pruning. require pinching back twice only, in
early summer and early autumn.
The technique is roughly similar for all
species. It consists of nipping the shoots
above a leaf joint, always leaving a pair
of leaves on the branch. This operation
will allow the branch to ramify and at the
same time dwarf the new leaves. This
method also encourages good sap circu-
lation, called upon by the requirements
of the branch.ltgoes without saying that
flowering or fruiting trees should not be
clipped until after flowering or fruiting
has finished.
Always collect the leaves you have cut.
If you leave them lying around, the plant
will look unkempt and the decomposing
2. This zelkova is being methodically pruned with leaves will keep the soil damp and favour
scissors. infection by fungal diseases.

3. Once it has been pruned, the good proportions of Clipping a maple leaf: here, using the special leaf-
the tree are restored. Pruning can be done several cutting scissors which form part of the bonsai
times in the growing season. enthusiast's equipment.