by Mark Goodman, Bellingham, Wa. 09/2022

It is always good to have a place to start, bonsai is no exception. When we talk about tree cleanup we are talking about a starting point. A simple task where we can focus our energy, closely inspect our tree and with a little luck define the direction forward. Whether we have a deciduous tree or conifer, often the success of our tree depends on how much time we can spend with it.

Tree cleanup is also a task we can turn to when we are at a dead end. A sort of emotional and physical reset button. This is a simple task requiring only a few tools that can return huge benefits. So, when we find ourself not knowing what to do next, pick up the tweezers and sheers and clean up our tree.

We start the process by visually inspecting our tree, starting at the soil surface, slowly moving up the trunk. From there we move out the branch structure, primary branches, secondary, then tertiary. Always turning the tree to take it all in. We are looking at the general health by noticing color and texture. This is a good time to look for insect activity such as foliage damage or nests. Insects can often do a lot of subtle damage before we notice they have infested our tree.

After our initial inspection we can step back and look at overall growth. This is a good time to clarify what stage do we consider our tree to be in, development or refinement. Notice the tree silhouette and ask, “is this moving in the direction I want?” As our depth of knowledge increases, we begin to learn what new growth to keep and what to remove.

Starting at the top now and working our way down, with shears in hand we begin to remove twigs and shoots emerging from the branch crotches. With a few exceptions this growth is undesirable, adding foliage density where it is not wanted and hiding ascetically pleasing branch structure that helps define our tree. By cleaning up these crouches, energy will be redirected towards other more desirable areas.

At this time, we can remove any dead branches or twigs, especially if found in the interior of our tree. These serve little purpose and often make the tree appear cluttered. Rarely in nature do we see interior dead branches. Dead branches that extend outwards reaching the exterior of our tree can be incorporated into design elements. These can be kept however this is a topic for another day so we will leave it to that.

While working our way down from the tree crown we remove growth emerging from the bottom of branches on deciduous trees. With conifers occasionally the bottom growing twigs can be incorporated in the overall design. As a rule of thumb downward growing branches are removed, however there are exceptions and as our design eye begins to develop this rule can be altered to suit our needs.

Moving further down the tree with a pair of tweezers (a dental pick or small stiff brush can be used) we remove moss that is creeping up the trunk. We may appreciate the appearance, however moss growing on a trunk destroys the bark. With moss growing on delicate bark try experimenting with a light application of vinegar. The vinegar will kill moss and not harm the tree or lichen. A few days after applying this light application of vinegar, a brush or pick can be used to remove the dead moss.

At last, we clean the soil surface. With tweezers in hand, we begin pulling weeds. Weeds left unchecked can go to seed further competing with the tree for nutrients. We also remove any organic material that has accumulated on the surface. A small bonsai soil brush can also be used for this purpose. Leaves and needles left to decompose become an ideal habitat for insects, disease, and fungus. A clean soil surface promotes good health and adds to the aesthetics.

As our bonsai awareness slowly develops this process begins to mature and take on a more refined rhythm. What has been stated above is a general approach and by no means all inclusive, it is a starting point! Tree cleanup is considered essential general maintenance. Like many techniques we learn in bonsai, when performed consistently throughout the year the quality of our trees will improve.

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