Carpinus No.10 "Rusnak"

Tree was wired and styled during, in last post you can find its full story since collection till present. February and now it was time to remove wires. New growth was shortened and as you can see from picture it has nice roundish silhouette. But much more foliage has to be removed to allow safe removal of all wires. Shoots on lower branches remained untouched to promote thickening. Now new buds are already turning red and new foliage will emerge soon. 

Just before Edward Scissorhands entered the scene

And during short pause in the middle of his job. 

Now enough foliage is removed to access wires

And final result after few hours. New leaves will emerge soon. 

In February after styling.

and on beginning of its bonsai journey in April 2009

Carpinus "The Yossarian"

This bonsai tree was wired back in January 2015 and during the weekend it was just about the time to remove wires. It would be too complicated with full canopy so defoliation was on agenda first. All long shoots were reduced to desired length and majority of leaves were removed. After that access to wires was much better so all wires were taken down. Now tree will enjoy full sun and new flush of leaves will emerge in few days. Sunlight will reach all spaces inside the crown and it will promote back-budding and help to create finer ramification. 

This is picture just before the work. If you compare it to January pictures you will see it grow very vigorously. 

Few minutes later all overgrown shoots are removed. Tree now looks nice and eventually it could be left like this and provide nice view. But much stronger reduction must be done to allow removal of wires and to improve ramification. So this is only short stop for picture and we go further. 

Branch by branch leaves are cut off.

And when all excess leaves are gone it is time for wire cutters.

And this is result after few hours of work. Bit messy but it will improve in next few days. 

And from another side.

April 2015

January 2015

March 2010

Hungry birds

Last week I found black bird nest in my Pyracantha hedge, just next to my bonsai benches. Little guys are small, vulnerable and hungry. Thorny plants are protecting them well from the enemies. Now they are my little friends, my kids love them. But, when they grow up, they become enemy of my moss in bonsai pots. That's the circle of life.

Fraxinus No.2

This tree was wired and styled in December last year, in this post you can find its story since collection from forest . Since than branches are on its positions and wires started to bite into bark. Obviously the best effective way to remove wires was shorten new growth and partially defoliate the tree. It was done about two weeks ago. Many of wires were still OK, so I decided to leave them there. New leaves just started to emerge I decided to remove rest of the wires yesterday. Only guy wires stay till autumn. 

Before defoliation in middle of  May 

New growth is everywhere, even on places where you do not need it. I have to remove it from same places several times a year.

When going through the tree I find bunch of white hairy aphids in size of small elephants. eating my tree, bastards. I panicked for a while and did know what kind of weapons use against them - chemical, water guns? Than generals decided to use brutal force - brush them with tooth brush. Massacre. But ants will bring them back. We won battle but not war yet. 

Leaves are removed and way to cut off wires is free. 

And final result yesterday, all wires are off. 

And new leaves are emerging already. 

Tree in December 2014 after wiring.

Tree on beginning of its journey in my garden. Picture taken shortly after collecting from woods in spring 2009.

Carpinus betulus No.3 "Gemini"

Wire cutting season for me continues. Now it was just about the time to remove wires from "Gemini" hornbeam. I was planing to do it earlier but it seamed like they can stay longer. Since January, when wiring was done it was enough time, so branches are holding nicely on new positions. 

As you can see on picture which was taken just before last session, tree was one big bush. Obviously there was no chance to remove wires through foliage. So, I partially defoliated the tree. As you can see on final pictures, only foliage on curved trunk was removed. On second trunk it was possible to do it without defoliation. At this phase of development, it was much better for second tree to keep as much foliage as possible, and not shorten shoots. I want to thicken subtrunks emerging from original trunk and for that purpose growth must be as big is possible. Later in the season this new growth will be edited to give it correct direction and shape.  

May 2015 - just before wire removal and defoliation. Massive growth, hmm?

To get to the wires new growth must have been reduced and majority of foliage removed. But it will be beneficial for the tree in terms of ramification improvement. 

And tree after job. On the right trunk all shoots were reduced and defoliated. Tree there is more less finished, I need only work on fine ramification in next few years.
On left trunk new growth is necessary for thickening certain trunk sections. 

After removal of wires.

Guy wires stay there during whole season, They are not posing risk of biting into the bark. And strong new branches tends to bend upwards when growth is strong, so they are very helpful in this phase.  

For comparison tree as looked in January 2015 after wiring.

And at the starting point, just after collection in spring 2009.

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Cornus mas No.1 after editing

This bonsai was slightly wired in March. It was growing well, and now it was time to cut it back and remove those few wires. This is one of most water sensitive plants in my garden. When it is too dry its shoots just hang down during the day. We are having quite rainy and cold weather during this spring, according to what it used to be, as I remember. And I have feeling this Dogwood is enjoying it a lot, I do not remember so healthy foliage. And fruits are growing nicely too, I do not remove them. I like them on this tree, and it is strong enough to handle them without problem. 

Quercus pubescens No.4

Oak was bit overgrown and it was time to cut excess shoots. Leaf size is final now. Also one of the bottom branches was wired to get it into better position. There was other branch before but it dried during last year. Now it is better I think. You can find earlier pictures from this year here and here.

Prunus spinosa No.1

Prunus spinosa bonsai tree after trimming and removing of the wires. Tree was wired in January this year, few pictures you can find here. Now it will be left like it is, it will probably grow another flush of shoots in few weeks. You can find many more pictures of this tree, in various stages of development, here on the blog, just use search tool on right side of page. 

May 2015 after trimming

May 2015 before trimming

Mid April 2015

In March 2010 freshly after collection from wild forest and potted into zeolite substrate mix. 

Carpinus betulus No.13 update

Tree was edited back in March 2015, you can see full story here. Today I removed excess growth at the top of the crown. Wires stayed there for next couple of weeks. Bottom branches are untouched. Triangular shape of the crown is more accidental, definitely not final shape. Must more round at the top in the future.