Japanese pruning techniques

[treeist]

Japanese Bonsai has always interested me. While I was growing up, my Uncle was an Bonsai artist in southern calif. I pruned my first juniper at 7. It takes a long time to learn to do this type of pruning. Is anyone else familiar with japanese pruning techniques?

 

[FBerkel]

My employees and I took lessons from the regional master, Harold Sasaki. We all are working on bonsais, mainly juniper and pine.

Harold has also worked with me on character pines in the landscape.

Harold's view of trees in the landscape reveals quite a different philosophy: "tree time" is not such a big consideration for him. He often refers to the "useful life of a tree"; he's not so hung up on decay and longevity as we arborists. Form, short-term health are bigger considerations.

 

[treeist]

Right on Fred, Is there much call for this type of pruning in denver? Large gardens or shrines?

 

[Rob Murphy]

My apologies for this!!

Some suggested this on a bussiness card.
" We climb trees- Any Size-except Bonsai's

 

[Stumper]

Treeist, I do quite a few "pseudo bonsai" prunes on junipers (Phitzers). THe real thing fascinates me but I have never seen it done except in films.

 

[treeist]

I learned alot from from working on large established japanese gardens. Much can be acomplished just with your hands, especially when candle pruning pines. Nearly impossible for a western trained arborist to perform the initial pruning, but maintanence pruning is much easier. I worked on one private garden in portland where the 12 ft black pines had been established by an international japanese landscape company. They flew from japan, workman to establish the trees. I can candle prune mabe one tree per day. Bonsai means potted tree