Essential Tips for pruning Bonsai trees in winter

[@CConn-df7hy]

Glad to see you post another video! Thanks for your contribution and content

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

You're welcome, thanks for your encouraging comment!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

An awesome video Dave!!! Well done!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Nigel!! I have to say, I wish I could make and publish videos as frequently as you!

[@orong2bonsai451]

Thanks for sharing my friend 👍🏻

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks for watching! 👍🏻

[@AlexBraunton]

Chopin' it! Great video Dave. I do love a good broom style Zelkova

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Alex! Yeah this broom is becoming more pretty each year.. the thing it lacks is nice nebari. Some year I need to either butcher those fat roots, or maybe do a ground layer just above them but still taking advantage of the trunk base. The reason I haven't done already is because I can't decide which way to go. A ground layer would be cleaner but would take longer to look in proportion with the rest of the tree. Thanks for your comment!

[@billz.3444]

Glad you are back. Looking forward to the spring time.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Bill! Yep it seems springtime is already arriving here...

[@PlantObsessed]

Great video.Always worth the wait!!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks so much!

[@christophenoisette3301]

Thanks. It's a pleasure to see your vidéos.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Christophe! Glad you're enjoying. Appreciate your comments 👍

[@bastiv7806]

This was a good video! I think many beginners will benefit from it.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thank you! Yes I hope it will be useful for beginners too.

[@robertscarborough68]

Beautiful video, just beautiful!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thank you!! 😊

[@mattbrennan647]

Chopin It! Colin Respect… Love both the Zelcova and Trident. Just beautiful. Another great tutorial Dave. Love the whiteboard. Thanks, keep growing

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Matt! glad you enjoyed the tutorial and whiteboard. And, both zelky and trident make fantastic bonsai. Both sooo vigorous.

[@BostonBonsaiIdiot]

Lol do I even need to say it?? HELLUVAH CHOP THERE BROTHER!!! Love this twiggy ass zelkova. Love the branching, love the choppin, and I remember the carving well. Somehow that was some super satisfying stuff. Totally random question, since we’re talking about timing of pruning: I’ve got a couple of old yews in the ground at the new homestead. Winter prune? Early spring? I can’t get a clear answer so I’m bugging you like the good old days. Cheers my friend, the beard kicks ass.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hahaha cheers bro!! the beard is merely a human scarf to get me through this winter without cold neck or throat problems... so far seems to work well. Yup the zelky is looking better each year. I'm embarrassed about the trunk base though, terrible big side root and no decent looking nebari. Maybe a future video in there 😉 I don't have any yews so can't talk from personal experience. Here in Spain they say prune yews either end of winter or end of summer... it might be different in the Massachusetts climate. Sorry couldn't give you any concrete answer. Hope you're doing ok and settling in at the new homestead!

[@richardnathandaniels2534]

Greta work! I love how you have the blackboard sessions explaining everything and also show the progression of the tree.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Richard! It's great to hear the blackboard tutorial sessions are appreciated. Cheers!

[@moharmon770]

@@BlueSkyBonsai The drawings are perhaps the best part of your videos. It makes the concepts very clear. Great stuff!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@moharmon770 thanks for that feedback! Maybe I should do a video with 100% whiteboard drawings!! 😂

[@MisterBobi]

It's beautiful to see how the trees are improving. Can't wait for the next Video.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks, really appreciate it 😊👍

[@มาดันบุญส่ง]

Hello, your video is awesome. It is very suitable for learning.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

A great yet simple explanation of sap flow and pruning. I wish we had such blue skies in not so sunny Grantham! I was goig to do some work on my tridents this week but we are just heading back into another cold snap with overnight temps down to -4C. I shall wait another week. Nothing seems to be waking up yet...though I cant get to the back of the greenhouse. Cheers.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hi Xavier, thanks! If I could send you over some of the blue sky and a couple of bottles of spanish wine and olive oil! But I believe since brexit none of these would arrive in Grantham!!

[@jmmvangoor]

Educational video Dave as usual thanks again and greetings from the Netherlands

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks again JMM, best regards

[@dantegianoli3267]

Love your videos !!!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! I really enjoy making them! 👍

[@davidmorgan3508]

Aussie Dave here David, very well presented, I love your white board presentation 👍

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Dave ! Nice to hear from you! Must be really early there??

[@davidmorgan3508]

@Blue Sky Bonsai hahaha when I posted you it was 5.00 am

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@davidmorgan3508 blimey! 5am .. at that time I'm usually only 3 or 4 hours into sleep 😁

[@gandolfgrey5385]

Quick tip the help with excess sap flow from wounds you can use dry sphagnum moss which will help to absorb the sap and encase the wound

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks that's an excellent tip. I'll try it next time this happens.

[@raymondplodzien7459]

Great content Dave. I always enjoy your videos!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Raymond! I always enjoy your great feedback too! 😊

[@LoveBonsai902]

You make it look simple which gives me confidence! Love your white boards! 😊

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! Glad to hear it's helping!

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

Very nicely done. Super video. 👍

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Jason! Appreciate it 😊

[@hyperionhelios190]

great information thank you!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Hyperion, glad you liked it!

[@BackGardenBonsai]

Nice work Dave. It’s crazy that trident already had the sap flowing in mid January! I noticed today my prunus has some swelling buds. Both earlier risers I guess!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Ian! 👍 Yep it's been such a mild winter, dormancy must've lasted barely 1 month here! I hope it's not a sign of global climate change 😬

[@canhtran8590]

One of the best channels for bonsai tutorials, tips, and instructions. They are informative for beginners like me. Keep the good works, Dave! Your whiteboards are really helpful. Greatly appreciate your efforts in each video.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks for your kind words! Really happy to hear my videos are helpful for you.

[@wallygrandpa]

After you linking this video to me, I watched it. Thank you for sharing all the info.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@davidoneill5962]

Best advise & tutorials by far that I’ve come across ,thank you

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks so much!

[@haryartbonsai7630]

Bonsai yang bagus... Gerak informal.. Saya menyukainya. Salam satu hobi dari 🇮🇩❤

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! 🌳😎

[@ManOfDoodle]

Best Bonsai content on YT as usual ❤

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks so much!! 😊

[@jeffhurst4744]

Another well presented and informative video my friend. Especially enjoy the drawing board portions you put in. They are very on point and help us to understand why and how they affect the overall design in making a beautiful Bonsai.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hi Jeff, thanks as always for your excellent feedback. It really helps, not just so I know I'm on the right track, but also helps me be positive while I'm planning the next video... which is always important to actually enjoy making the videos!

[@notionbonsai]

Lovely video Dave! Its worrying to see sap flowing already!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Adam. Yes what worries me is if this is a symptom of climate change... or maybe this January is just an anomaly..

[@notionbonsai]

@@BlueSkyBonsai I think it is climate change unfortunately 🤔There was a queen wasp in my garden yesterday. Broke hibernation way too early!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@notionbonsai yep that's the worry. I haven't seen bees yet here though. I suppose the most concerning will be if it's warm again next winter. Although with the energy bills as they are right now I don't fancy any colder!!

[@Dylan-ok6ft]

This has been an interesting winter in the southeast US. Some of the coldest lows of the last 10 years, but also on average pretty warm. We had a hard freeze last night and yesterday I had to bring in a Chinese elm that started leafing out early!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Yeah I feel like our house temperature has been really cold (the heating bills are higher this year) but the cold weather seems to be over already now in Feb. On the bright side, the repotting time window should be much wider!

[@Handless_handle]

Love your videos

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! I love your comments 😊👍

[@peterzukof7942]

Brilliant as always! Beautiful trees and just the best explanation . I always think about your information when I’m working on my trees. Would love to see a book of all your whiteboards for reference!!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Peter! Great to hear my explanations are helping you. A book sounds like a great idea, the problem is that publishing houses are very difficult to get into...

[@pablo.4421]

David, muchas gracias por otro vídeo más, pedagógico y muy bien editado. Se echaban de menos. Te propongo que, cuando puedas, hagas un vídeo sobre teoría, algo más largo y parecido a los que hiciste hace un año. Conocer la teoría y entenderla nos ayuda mucho a comprender a nuestros árboles y a elegir la mejor técnica en cada estación. Gracias de nuevo por estar ahí y por compartir tu conocimiento,

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Gracias Pablo por tus excelentes comentarios! Siempre me gusta recibir ideas y consejos sobre los vídeos. para entenderte mejor, cuales son los vídeos de teoría que te refieres? Querías ver más la técnica, o te refieres más a los vídeos de horticultura de árboles en macetas?

[@pablo.4421]

@@BlueSkyBonsai Gracias por responder David. No me refiero a un video concreto sino a la parte teórica de tus vídeos que explicas con la pizarra. Hiciste uno muy bueno explicando las principales técnicas en función de la época del año. Sería interesante algo parecido pero incluyendo también la parte de cultivo y diferenciando entre perennes y caducos. De todas formas, todos tus vídeos enseñan algo por lo que nadie mejor que tú para enfocarlos como te parezca. Saludos y gracias por todo.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@pablo.4421 sí la verdad es que en mis videos falta más explicación sobre los perennes con diferencia a los caducos, es cosa que debo considerar. Aunque no lo hago en el siguiente video, seguramente lo haré en alguno en el futuro. De todas formas gracias de nuevo por tus comentarios e ideas!

[@ChannelSobari]

Tips for pruning bonsai tree👍👍🙏❤️

[@richardandrew01]

Hi Dave, I have another small-leaved olive bonsai which seems to be dying. Its leaves are wilting and drying up. I am not sure what the cause is but I repotted it again and placed it in the shade. Is it ok to prune the branches and defoliate the whole tree as all its leaves are turning brown but the branches are still green. The small leaves are still remaining on the tree but they are turning brown. Thanks again for your previous and invaluable advice.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hi Richard Andrew, you can remove any leaves that are clearly dead, but try to *not remove* the entire petiole of each leaf - keep a bit of the petiole on the branch because you want to make sure any leaf buds on the branch are undisturbed and might open up in a few weeks time. I wouldn't prune any live branches right now, go ahead and remove dead wood but keep any live branches because the tree might need to "choose" which stems to keep alive and push out new buds as it comes back to life. I would also put a clear plastic bag over it for 100% humidity until the new leaves have grown. But if you do that, watch out for fungals and insects! Good luck!!

[@SysterYster]

One of my apple trees still has green leaves on the newest branch that sprouted near the base in the autumn. That's so weird. It's been fairly warm this winter, but still. There has been days with several minus degrees, and it's dark, and all the others are sleeping. Has that happened to you sometime? That a tree doesn't wanna sleep? Tree insomnia? lol. Also, my birches look like they're on the verge of waking up, and it's a bit too early still. But we got some minus degrees again this/last week and snow. So I hope they can wait a little longer. Oh, and my juniper seems to be alive still. It took some damage when I was away for Christmas, but still hangs in there. :D

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Don't worry about the apple tree. Mine often keeps one or two leaves over winter, even when there was snow. This year it didn't but it always springs back to life in spring without problem. If they wake up early, it's not a big issue unless they're still really young and in danger of bud freeze. If yours are still young and budding already, keep them indoors until there's no chance of freezing!

[@SysterYster]

@@BlueSkyBonsai Alright, thank you. :) I mean, my oldest are 2,5 years old. XD It's a little warmer on the balcony than outdoors, but still cold. The birches are definitely starting to wake up. They haven't opened any buds yet, but they're getting bigger and greener. I'll take them in if they open up more then. :) Thank you for the advice.

[@kiwibonsai2355]

Seen a few of your Videos and find your content clear informative and relaxed. Earned another subscriber. ✌️❤️🇳🇿

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Great, thanks!! 🌳👍🤘

[@mattbrennan647]

I’ve also read, and seen videos, suggesting doing the hard pruning in fall, right after leaf drop. This allows the wounds to heal before winter and all that stored energy would be directed to budding out. Your thoughts?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

I've been winter pruning these trees every January between start and mid Jan and never had this issue before here in Madrid. Maybe it's climate change starting to affect nature! Yes I might need to prune it this year in December after the last leaf drops. Fall happens quite late here ... The other possibility is to defoliate it in summer and prune it then as wounds tend to callus quicker.

[@sueb1317]

Brilliant and well timed vid Dave! Really appreciated the tutorial - highlighted every decision I've been struggling with. I feel your pain with the early sap rise. Every winter seems so different here on the mild Canadian west coast. Do wish you could send some of your blue sky our way - i can feel my scissors rusting as I write😄

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks so much Sue! Yeah I have to admit, the most wonderful thing about where I live is the blue sky and the sheer number of sunlight hours, even when it's freezing cold. If I could send you some blue sky with a couple bottles of spanish wine and olive oil I would do so, but I believe none of these would arrive safely in the canadian west! Enjoy Spring when it arrives 😊

[@backbudbonsai]

I really like your trident maple, it looks great! The crabapple, although small and many many years away from being complete, has a great start and bright future ahead in my opinion. I also love and appreciate all the “white board” demonstrations you give. Very informative without being overwhelming! Do you do some sort of computer graphics for work? KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE EFFORT IT MUST TAKE! Happy bonsai from the west coast of the USA, zone 8b.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks so much for your excellent feedback! For the crab apple, 2 years ago I did a video called Making Tough Pruning Decisions, you can see how it was before I did that massive (small) trunk chop... and why I did it. Although my guess is you can probably already see why I did it! I'm not a specialist in graphics but by profession I work in software documentation, so I really enjoy explaining complex concepts in short bite-sized pieces. Thanks again for your great comments.

[@nanukvas]

I like you concave cutters what brand are they?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

They are Ryuga. Quite expensive but worth the money.

[@aden8]

Thank you for sharing

[@naturgeist]

Fantastic video my friend! Reminds me to do some pruning before the Sapflow starts. Thanks für all the usefull informations 😊 cheers

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks so much! Yup, I left it too late for the trident but I think it's just because this year winter was so mild and the tree hardly had a dormancy... if this is a sign of the new reality, warmer climate, I will do my winter pruning in early december this year, maybe straight after the last leaf drops... cheers!

[@naturgeist]

@@BlueSkyBonsai Good point! That might be something we must adapt to in the future 😕

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@naturgeist yes it's a bit worrying from an environmental perspective. But with the cost of gas and electricity so high this year I'm quite thankful of the slightly warmer winter!!

[@naturgeist]

@@BlueSkyBonsai oh yes it is. I am studying international forest ecosystem management and nearly half of the studys are about changing environmental conditions and how to adapt. But yea for us as humans in the short term (especially in winter) it is nice to have warmer weather indeed! 🌿

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@naturgeist forest ecosystem management sounds like a fantastic course. I sometimes tjink about going back and studying some horticultural pursuit, but ... maybe when I retire... haha we're getting solar panels on the roof, they're installing them tomorrow. Let's see if that drops our heating bills a great deal. (We already don't have gas for a long time). So, trying to do our bit for the environment 🌲🌳🌴🌞

[@baldyeti]

As always, very insightful. I always dig the whiteboard work. As for the sap flow; if you’re making large cuts in spring or early summer, will using cut paste/sealant minimize the damage of the bleeding? Or still pretty risky?

[@baldyeti]

I was diggin the shout-out to Colin, 😅

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks Billy, appreciate your comments. If the cut paste is gluey or globby enough I think it should seal the wound. Unfortunately mine continued to bleed for a while after putting on the paste, and left an ugly dribble down the tree ! Decided not to show that 😂 Btw just seen you have published a vid, I'm sitting at a sports event with my youngest so looking forward to watch it later!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@baldyeti last year I said "I enjoyed that" and Colin commented I should make that my catchphrase!!

[@baldyeti]

@@BlueSkyBonsai oh, I remember when you said it! I laughed and was going to comment about it until I saw Colin already called you out. 😂

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@baldyeti 😂👍

[@bobbymalta73]

Thank You.

[@santoshsharmavlogs1550]

Very nice

[@NgocLinhVo-Thienthong8428]

Tuyệt , chúc anh thành công 🎉

[@nolanbrooks1588]

Any white board videos on when to dig up Yamadori?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

I don't but that's a great idea for a video! Thanks 👍

[@nolanbrooksbrg3645]

@@BlueSkyBonsai Feel Free to use the idea. I think you have some of the best polished bonsai videos on youtube. You obviously put in the work. great job

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@nolanbrooksbrg3645 thank you! And I really appreciate your great feedback.

[@random_rodent]

Great video again 😉👍 Yeah i also read that some advice not to prune ABC trees in winter? Because of early sap flow. And others say before half of January? (ABC) Acer/Birch/Carpinus. I did prune my new Birch nursing stock before half of January. Because I wanted more energy at the lower part of the tree. But that didn't bleed? But then again don't know if it actually is still alive 😂😂 (Bought it this winter)

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks again!! I have always pruned my maples in January, this is the first year this one has bled. Maybe, I hope not, but maybe its the beginning of climate change here 😬 Anyway next year I'll do it in December straight after the last leaf falls!

[@random_rodent]

@@BlueSkyBonsai Yes I will do that this year too I think 🤔😉👍 We also had pretty warm temperatures for this time.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@random_rodent where are you located? Apologies if you already told me; I have the memory of a goldfish!!

[@random_rodent]

@@BlueSkyBonsai No i haven't told you 😂😉👍 I live in the Netherlands 😉👍

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@random_rodent haha some of the best bonsai enthusiasts are in Netherlands 👍

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌

[@bonsaigogo509]

Hi Dave, A bit off topic, but how do you decide which soil compositions to use for specific trees? I notice for example you use Kiryu/Akadama as a top dressing for some trees, but only Kiryu for others. Is it based off moisture requirements? Apologies if I missed a video where you explained this.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Kiryu is very good for top soil because it changes colour between wet and dry so it's easy to see when it needs watering, and a bit like pumice it holds its structure better than akadama. So one year I tried it on several trees as the exclusive top dressing. However I found it to be less retentive than akadama - basically dried quicker. So I finally settled on the optimum composition of about 1/3 kiryu with 2/3 akadama, which seems to be pretty retentive and yet keep its structure better than pure akadama. If you live in a hot dry climate like I do, you need to prioritize water retention, but if you live in a cooler, wetter climate then you could use more pumice and kiryu in your mix, and I guess you could use exclusively kiryu as your top dressing. HTH

[@bonsaigogo509]

​@@BlueSkyBonsai Ok awesome, thanks for answering.

[@MattJarvis0]

Hello, I really appreciate all of your videos - I am new to the bonsai world and my little tree would definitely not still be alive without them! However, I’ve become fairly worried about my sageretia - it’s a fairly young tree about 10 inches tall. I had been keeping it fed and watered until I went away over Christmas, leaving the tree with a glass water bulb shaped device. When I returned the tree was okay, albeit with slightly dried soil. It’s been a month and a half since I returned but the leaves are still yellowing and falling off - I fear I may have over watered the tree after I returned in reaction to the dried soil, but I’m not sure. Do you have any ideas as to what could be wrong with my tree? Thanks!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hi Matt, it's a common misconception that overwatering harms bonsai. The only way that too much water can cause stress in a tree is due to poor drainage, causing the pooled water to stagnate, and consequently rotting the roots. You can easily test if this is happening by smelling the drainage holes on the underside of the pot. If the smell of normal healthy soil, then that is not the problem. When trees suffer or die, in the vast majority of cases it's due to drought and sometimes it can take several days or weeks before the leaves start to show signs of having suffered stress due to drought. So, assuming you have good drainage and healthy soil, the best thing you can do is put a big-enough clear plastic bag over the whole tree and pot like a humidity tent, keep it in a window where there is direct light, and keep watering it "normally" so the soil doesn't dry out. Keep it like that for 6-8 weeks, even for a couple of weeks after you see the new leaf buds unfurl. Don't fertilize at all when it's suffering, not until the new leaves are plentiful. Fertilizing can further jeopardise a tree in stress because the salts can limit the amount of water the roots can absorb.

[@MattJarvis0]

@@BlueSkyBonsai soil smells normal! Oh phew I’m so relieved to know that thank you so much for your reply. I’ll put the bag over and continue watering normally. Thanks again

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@MattJarvis0 great! Two things with the bag, firstly you could mist a bit of water inside so the humidity will be near 100% straight away, and secondly watch for any signs of white fungus on the tree after a couple of weeks, it can happen in high humidity if there are other sources of fungal spores from anywhere. Not deadly but if you see it spray on a tiny bit of plant-friendly antifungal spray.

[@kroekerta]

great info and visual on why to prune when. Can you tell me when to hard chop long or larger roots of a field maple? I assume spring after the buds start popping or not?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks! Yes you got it exactly right, hard prune the bigger roots of field maple just when you see the buds swelling and ready to pop. If you're interested I recommend you watch this video about repotting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3fHiKxjgst5qNU And this one where I use a stone trick during repotting to help develop the nebari kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3TWc6hso9CKec0.

[@kroekerta]

@@BlueSkyBonsai so very Awesome! Thanks for the prompt reply. How do I know wich trees follow this and wich ones dont?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@kroekerta you're welcome! Basically ALL deciduous trees follow this rule for late winter and early spring. The bigger the leaves, then it's safer to do earlier in the repotting season, (i.e. as soon as you see the buds swelling) because big leaves draw up more water, and in early summer that can make the tree suffer if you have just pruned roots. Coniferous trees too, they can be done in late spring after you've done the deciduous. Broadleaf outdoor evergreens like olives, boxwoods, pyracanthia, holm oak... treat them a bit like conifers, can be repotted in spring before it starts to get too hot out. Tropical / indoor species can be done any time of year. Cover with a plastic bag for a couple of weeks afterwards to keep high humidity so the leaves don't drop with the slower water supply from the suddenly reduced roots. The videos I mentioned should provide you with the reasons and more details.

[@kroekerta]

@@BlueSkyBonsai thats perfect, thanks

[@kennethreister7619]

Regarding sap flow in maples: My experience is in USDA Zone 8b in Washington State. I've tried pruning small branches and twigs from my Japanese Maples at various times: Shortly after leaf drop in early November, bleeding ; Late December, bleeding; Early January, bleeding. We have a hard, 4 day, freeze coming up with temperatures dipping down to 18F or -8C. I'll try pruning again after that. Thus far, the only time that pruning has caused very little bleeding is when they are in leaf. The trees seem to maintain internal pressure while leafless.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Yes it's interesting, I prune this trident with all the other maples every winter in January, and this was the first time it bled. This video was 12 months ago, this year I just pruned it again and it was fine this year. When it bleeds perhaps doesn't depend so much on the temperature or exact timing, but maybe how vigorous it was during the year. This year the trident gave hundreds of seeds, which I left on it to mature, so the leaf and stem growth was a lot less vigorous this year. Also agreed it doesn't bleed in summer.

[@hombre1049]

Sir, please advise as to what type and brand of pruner that you are using here. TY, Mark

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

This is a Ryuga brand curved branch pruner. Some people prefer the straight pruners but this curved one doubles up as a hollower, to some extent.

[@maximumchicken4518]

Thank you for the upload. Do you ever cut back flush to the branch or trunk?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Welcome! Good question. You *can* flush cut to the branch or trunk, but there's much less risk of infection entering the wound if you leave a stub, and also you prevent any die back from extending into the parent stem. I usually tidy up the stubs 1 year later. I discuss this exact subject in more detail in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioOyn6miepl9fJY Hope that helps!

[@maximumchicken4518]

@Blue Sky Bonsai Thank for the response. I'll be watching all your videos soon :)

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

@@maximumchicken4518 great! Just let me know of any other questions. I may not know all the answers, but it really helps me see any gaps in the information in my videos. Cheers!

[@maximumchicken4518]

@@BlueSkyBonsai Very kind of you. Thank you

[@thelazybonsai]

Noice!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Cheers! 😊👍

[@elfoo2933]

what is that paste that you applied to the cut areas?

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Kiyonaru 100 ml - here's where I got mine: www.laosgarden.com/es/cicatrizantes/17-pasta-injertos-y-cicatrizante-bonsai-kiyonaru-100-ml.html

[@zootsnchoons649]

Nice trees, nice yard, nice house 👍pants are a little tight tho

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Thanks 👍 that's hilarious!! I hadn't even noticed until you said it!

[@zootsnchoons649]

@@BlueSkyBonsai haha all good! keep up the great videos!

[@edinborogh]

First!!

[@christophenoisette3301]

Well done ! 😄

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

You were there in the first few seconds!!