Bonsai Art of Shaping - Bud Prunning

Bud pruning is often done along with branch pruning. Like the branch pruning, bud prunning is done when working with a developed tree. Both aim to harmonize and perfect the final form of the bonsai. Sometimes bud pruning is preferable to branch pruning. Consider the benefits and drawbacks of both before choosing what to prune.

When To Choose Bud Pruning

Bud pruning is preferable to branch pruning in a couple of situations.

•  If the bonsai already has a completed form, then branch prunning can damage that form. At the same time Pruning the buds will allows you to maintain the form without extra growth.
• Pruning the buds is also preferable if your goal is to suppress branch growth without pruning it.

There are several other reasons for choosing to prune buds. If your deciduous tree already has attractive branches and lush foliage, you will want to preserve that. Bud pruning is preferable to retain the tree’s beauty. With coniferous trees, bud pruning is sometimes used instead of leaf pruning because the latter can damage the tree’s growth and compromise the quality of the leaves produced.

Timing For Bud Pruning

Buds should be pruned as they emerge. This is typically in the spring. Some trees have an extended season of budding which can last from spring until autumn. For these trees, buds need to be monitored and pruned as necessary for the entire period of budding.

Bud pruning should be avoided in some circumstances.

• Avoid pruning an unhealthy plant or one that has been weakened such as in the immediate period after being repotted.
• Also avoid bud pruning if you are still thickening the trunk or want specific branches to thicken. The buds require extra water and nutrients to grow, and the trunk and branches thicken to accommodate the transport of those nutrients.

The Process Of Bud Pruning

Bud pruning is done by pinching the buds off by hand or pruning with scissors. Choose the prunning by hand or sissor depending upon the location of bud. It is important to remove the undesired buds when they emerge. It also helps control the size of the tree and uniformity of its growth. 

Bud pruning should be focused on the older branches near the top of the tree. Pruning near the bottom should be restrained if you choose to prune in that location. Make sure that the plant has been adequately fertilized and watered both before and after the bud pruning process. 

Bud Pruning For Deciduous And Coniferous Trees

Bud pruning for deciduous trees is a fairly straightforward process. Because of the annual cycle of new foliage, it makes it easier to determine when to remove buds. Bud pruning occurs in the early spring, when the buds first emerge and before the leaves come out. 

Coniferous trees include many popular pine varieties that are often used in bonsai. Coniferous trees require bud pruning twice a year, when they first emerge in spring and in the early summer when a new round of budding occurs after the first pruning. Buds will continue to form even after the second pruning, emerging all the way until autumn. The dual pruning sessions creates a shorter growth period for the buds on the tree. This is desirable for bonsai growth, since it will create smaller leaves that are appropriate for the bonsai’s size. Encourage the new bud growth by pruning leaves if necessary to provide better access to sunlight and ventilation.