#101 EspritBonsaiInternational - 55A “girder” of thick wire had been placed
along the fragile parts to prevent
them from moving during styling.
The boxwood tree is placed in a slightly over-large glazed
pot. The second phase of work can begin: removing the
bracing wire, applying training wire to a new branch,
and pruning to counteract apical dominance.
After the second phase of work, it is clear that the boxwood tree has
developed well. It just needs another two or three years of training.The whole thing was then covered with a second layer of raffia,
then training wire. Next, the branch was put into position using a
brace: it bent where it wanted to, except on the protected part.The result was acceptable for a first styling
exercise, but the empty space on the
right under the crown was too large.Wiring ...
Beginners tend to remove training wire too early, and thus waste a
lot of time and energy, not to mention the cost of the wire. What is
more, this is dangerous for the tree. If you take the wire off before
the tree has produced enough wood, the branch returns to its
original position: the compressed fibres decompress, and those that
were decompressed become compressed. There is a risk of losing
the branch.
Here, despite the tree’s vigour, the wire has not left any marks and
can remain in place for another year or two. If it cuts in anywhere
in the summer, it should just be snipped through and left in place,
being removed only in the winter when the wood will be properly
lignified. If it is removed in the summer, the year’s wood will be too
fragile and the bark and cambium will be torn off with the wire.This way the branch tips would be pointed:
overly rounded branch ends need to be avoided.
After the second phase
The tree has matured, but it still needs two or
three more years’ training to be truly ready for dis-
play.
The first branch is still too heavy and will need
to be separated into several lighter foliage masses.
But for the time being, growth needs to be sti-
mulated in this part to get the branch to fill out.
What is more, apical growth tends to weaken lower
branches.
This demonstrates that, after all, in four or five
years, with a quality yamadori – even a small one –
you can very quickly obtain a handsome bonsai. �