How to prune a bonsai tree for Broom Style | Zelkova Bonsai

In this video, I show you how to design, plan and prune your bonsai tree in the commonly known Broom Style. This style is also known as "Hokidachi style". In the long term I want to create an umbrella silhouette for my tree, sometimes also known as Umbrella style.
I work on my Zelkova bonsai:
- designing and creating the branch structure,
- pruning all the branches back, explaining the pruning decisions,
- encouraging the ramification that we need to make a beautiful winter image when a deciduous tree loses its leaves.
The Zelkova Serrata is sometimes called Japanese elm, and it has very similar characteristics to a common elm but in fact the Zelkova is a separate genus of trees than the "Ulmus" genus that includes common elm and Chinese elm.
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[@TheBonsaiZone]

A really good video Dave, your tree is in good hands!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Nigel for your kind words! I really appreciate your taking the time to watch and comment.

[@gerryfarrell6401]

It’s nice my 2 favourite KZbin bonsai sensei are friends ! Thank you both Dave and Nigel

[@MrNutsHouseofLittleTreesBONSAI]

Loving the trunk that's awsome. And I love the shout out to Nigel Saunders, did you know he is an aussie by birth? That's way he has such green thumbs, lol

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Mr Nuts! I did not know that... interesting! No hint of an aussie accent though 😉

[@garretttrang7998]

Turns out the leafless tree I bought was a Japanese grey bark elm so naturally I had to come finish this video! Thanks again for the great content

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Great choice for a bonsai. Thanks for letting me know!

[@BackGardenBonsai]

Great tree. Loved the whiteboard action again :) lol. Ive seen brooms where they just grow out a mess of branches and then wire it to look very very full and shapely, so its good to see some one explaining why you need to cut back and be patient. like you said, if youre in a hurry, this isnt the hobby for you! 👍

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks mate! If you are creating a broom for an evergreen like sageretia, or holm oak etc you could do it by hedge cutting and wiring because you've always got the leaves so you're not aiming to get the winter silhouette of fine branches and twigs. Pruning selectively for a broom also lets you balance the vigour, whereas nature will tend to give you much more vigour on the high branches. Thanks again!

[@BonsaiJCan]

I really enjoyed the video, your style brings good clarity with your advice ! 👌

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks so much!! 😊👍

[@ernsttencate6699]

I like your films. Nice en understandable.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks for watching and for your comment! 👍

[@joewatkins1667]

Another fantastic video! You have such a calming effect! I am also making a broom style for my chinese elm, great help, thanks :)

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Joe. A good broom style bonsai can look really convincing as a miniature tree, it's worth putting in the work 🌳👍🏻

[@BostonBonsaiIdiot]

Wow...really nice detailed work, and really cool material. What was it like when you acquired it?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks BBI, I got it early 2019 but I didn't do much at all last year except the summer pruning. You can see how it looked at the end of last year on my very first video on this channel! Watch out for the emotion-inducing music!! 😊

[@thegame7806]

Wow 😍😍😍

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

😊👍

[@DoBonsai]

I like your video very much. I like broom style Bonsais and in my collection I have 6 trees that I want to shape them in broom style. Thanx for teaching me. 17th-18th likes are from me.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks a lot for watching and your comments & likes! I also really like broom style, you see a lot of natural broom-shape trees out there in the wilderness but it's difficult to get a bonsai to look really convincingly natural.

[@dcads2290]

Super video as usual with great advice

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks, wow you're really binge-watching my videos, that's great!

[@giangianni503]

I bought 4 trees to train them as bonsai 6 days ago after watching Mr Chan's videos. Now I found ur channel. perfection. Lovely channel

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thank you! Enjoy your first four trees... and enjoy the next decades as they turn into beautiful bonsai! 🌳👍🏻

[@giangianni503]

@@BlueSkyBonsai :D for now, I enjoy your videos. I love both bonsai and bonsai's lovers. I love your calm, good manners, voice, wisdom. Even if I will not keep growing bonsai, I'll follow your life style (or at least I'll try!) thank you for sharing "what you are", more than "what you do". it's way more precious (sorry for my bad english, as italian.. I can't do it well ahah)

[@mattbrennan647]

New subscriber. Really like the content. Thanks

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Matt great to have you on board! 🍺👍🏻

[@michaels3860]

One of the best channels for bonsai. Instasub!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks bro! I really appreciate it. 🌳👍

[@stevenvitali7404]

Great video!, Thanks for sending the link about the anchor wire

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! This was the last one I did with the physical whiteboard... those colour markers were just too crap! So after this I decided to move to the graphics whiteboard.

[@stevenvitali7404]

@@BlueSkyBonsai your video's are very well done

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@stevenvitali7404 much appreciated!

[@HAJUBONSAI]

Good

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thank you!

[@cliffordgoodrich3773]

The best tutorial ,on broom style bonsai yet. With broom style, are you concerned about the front ? The skeleton usually has opposite branches starting at the first row of branches, but it's difficult to see from a two dimensional image whether the branches go all around the trunk as they follow up toward the apex. Are most all the main skeletal branches along the same plane or do they circle around the trunk? Is it okay to needle graft branches to help create the opposite branch effect?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks for your kind words! Excellent questions, and I wish I had addressed those in the video. In theory the canopy of a broom should be more or less homogeneous from any viewing angle, especially with all the foliage. But in practice there is likely to be a view where the primary branches look better, especially in winter. Moreover, the trunk base and nebari will likely determine the front view. The main skeletal branches should come out all round the trunk's division point or higher, indeed in 3 dimensions. And the angles and heights that you have them coming out depends on the type/image of broom you want - umbrella, witch's broom, globe, or flame. (Kicking myself for not saying this in the video... maybe a subject for a future update on this tree). Thanks a lot for your comment and questions!

[@cliffordgoodrich3773]

@@BlueSkyBonsai Thank you for your concise answers. I"d really like to see your folow up video on this subject.

[@tombuick1914]

"If you're in a hurry you need to pick another hobby" that's Bonsai in a nutshell.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Cheers Tom, it's funny in a way, but it's true...

[@crazyasian9152]

Best thing you said i love is "if you are in hurry better find another hobby" well said...you have any social media account i can send you message and take suggestion whenever I need in future...I will be very thankful 😇❤

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hi Crazy Asian, thanks yeah when I listen back to that line it sounds good eh! But when I said it I was just focussing on the job, maybe just saying whatever came into my mind... I think the best way to communicate bonsai is through flickr. You can create a free account for up to 1000 photos. You create an album for the progress on each of your trees then you can always share a photo if you want to show it off or ask for advice etc. There is Flickrmail. You can see my flickr account here: www.flickr.com/photos/davidhseymour/albums

[@crazyasian9152]

Thanks 😭❤ 🙏

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@crazyasian9152 then maybe you can tell me your name so I don't think you're crazy!!

[@crazyasian9152]

Yes sure my name is Jaspreet Singh you can call me Jass 😇

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@crazyasian9152 👍🏻cheers Jass, hopefully hear from you on Flickr!

[@SysterYster]

I like how carefully you cut each branch, and then at Heron's Bonsai he just hedge cuts like a maniac. XD Sucha contrast. :P I should go plant my Desert rose cuttings. See they wanna grow. I realized they make good bonsai (ish) and can get real fancy trunks/roots, so I'm gonna try doing that. :D

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! I suppose the difference is that Peter has hundreds of these, so doesn't get the time to do each one in such detail. The other thing, once you've got the primary branch structure in place, after that you can start doing it more slapdash. This video was last year; but 3 months ago in summer I pruned the tree much quicker (not least because I wasn't filming it...) Good luck with the desert rose!

[@SysterYster]

@@BlueSkyBonsai That's a very good point. :D So, basically, start carefully, then there's no need to bother too much once it's got the look you were after? :) Thank you! :D

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@SysterYster you're welcome. Ps. daughter's two baby turtles died today, 3 days after we got them. Don't suppose you know about turtles?? Water constant 26°, pH neutral, feeding with baby turtle food/pellets.

[@SysterYster]

@@BlueSkyBonsai Oh no! I'm so sorry. :'( No, I'm sorry, I don't know anything about turtles. Ask about snakes if you want, but not turtles. The only thing I can think of is that they weren't healthy to begin with, or they were shocked from transitioning from one type of living condition to another too fast (how were they transported as well?). I'd contact the ones she got them from about that.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@SysterYster thanks for the advice! So my wife took them back to the pet shop this evening, and they apologised profusely and said 9 others of the same species had also died 😨 so they were giving in exchange baby turtles of a different species. My daughter is happy again. Fingers crossed these survive 🤞🏻

[@danielhughes6896]

I think you need to grow out the lower branches so that they get thicker.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing, thanks for the tip!

[@bonsaibywally]

Don't you create inverse taper with the four major branches going from almost one point

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Yes! The broom is unique for that in bonsai styles. Take a look at the whiteboard in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5jPdYB-mLZ3qqc at around 2:20 is your answer.

[@bonsaibywally]

@@BlueSkyBonsai thank you very much. I love the broom style and I'll start one really soon

[@xviolist]

How necessary is it to have the diivided apex at the very topmof the trunk? Coould you create a broomstyle from one central trunk chop at top?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hi Clifford, great question! it's not necessary to have the divided apex, it was just a nice feature on this particular Zelkova. You can easily do it from a central trunk chop. As the new shoots emerge, the key is to try to imagine them as large branches in five or more years' time. Over time the top of you trunk will get fatter anyway as many shoots come out of the same height, so after many years it will almost appear to divide out at your chop height.

[@nickschilder4932]

What kind of watering can do you use exactly? And what do you use to water very tiny young bonsai

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hi, please see my video about watering bonsai: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2PHc4KodpynhdU - all is explained. Please note that some people have found Hawes don't sell this exact model any more so they have bought the mouthpiece and attached it to another can.

[@robcottam2]

I've searched high and low for the haws 2.5 gallon can here in the states. Finally found one! There are 3 companies that carry a variety of haws. I believe they are listed on haws website or you can email them and they will tell you.

[@nickschilder4932]

Thank you so much for the info guys

[@joewatkins1667]

I'm assuming you live in England but not too sure, can i ask where you place your trees in the winters coldest weeks? cheers

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

I live in Madrid, Spain, it does get pretty cold in winter - I keep all the trees outdoors except Sageretia, Ficus, Carmona and Chinese Ligustrum. ANd the tiny mame size trees. You can see the whole outdoor situation in the snow in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lajWeIqOh8ubhKM HTH

[@xviolist]

Have you ever worked on a jacaranda? If so, any advice?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hi Clifford, I have no first-hand experience of Jacarandas, but they look really nice. From from what I have heard they need a lot of light, yet the soil must never dry out completely. And they don't like the cold so they probably need to be indoors all winter... unless you live in the tropics?

[@johnrecuelo4249]

Why are you afraid of defoliants going the tree? You can remove the leaves of Zelkova at least three times a year. If you going to work on the branch structure you can remove the leaves.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

You're right, I should have defoliated the tree to show the branch structure better. Maybe will again in another video this summer...

[@marcbaula]

You need to buy a new marker 😊

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hahaha you're 100% right! This video was over 2 years, ago... since then I got some magic markers! And if you've seen my latest videos I have a magic drawing board too 😉

[@cayotuiza7202]

Please use a black or blue pentel pen not red.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Ok! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@ffraj5104]

Why do u whisper daddy

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

tranquility is precious 🧘🏼‍♂️🙏🏻

[@ffraj5104]

I mean it’s easier to hear what u say without getting sh%# scared when the sudden ad pops up or when u switch to porn u don’t want ur old lady wake up in the bedroom..hehe

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@ffraj5104 😂😂👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻