Bonsai Focus (English Edition) – July-August 2019

3

STEP BY STEP

The future image of the tree. Note the red

branch, our future counter balance branch

Seen from above, the almost completely wired tree

The tree in summer

The finished work, the tree

slightly tilted to the left for

a more balanced image

Beech - SPECIES

Common name:

Japanese beech

Genus:

Fagus

Higher taxon:

Fagaceae

Species:

Fagus crenata

Skill level:

Beginner to advanced

Soil type:

Medium rich, but well

draining, with 40-50% fine

gravel added to the mix.

Flowers and fruit:

Both female (green) and

male (yellow) are small in

separate clusters on the

same tree in mid spring.

Fruit is a spiky husk 2.5 cm

long, with edible nuts.

Foliage:

The simple, dark green,

leaves are arranged along

the branch alternately.

They are broadest towards

the base and have 7 to 11

pairs of veins.

Bark:

The bark is smooth and

g r e y.

When wire bites in

Monitor the wired tree every week to

check that the wire isn't biting into the

rapid thickening branches. Here you can

see what happens when you are too late.

If you should see wire biting into the bark,

remove it carefully using wire cutters

to snip through the wire and take it out

piece by piece. The damaged areas can be

treated with cut paste.

The result so far

During the next season the tree needs to be repotted and given

further refinement of the branches. We also need to address the

bold space on the right. Here we need a counter-balance branch

which has to grow from a spontaneous bud or, most likely, has

to be developed by using the approach technique. Not straight

away, however. This will be an action point for the future.

Bonsai Focus 51