Setting Up a Bonsai Bench and Pruning My Alberta Spruce, The Bonsai Zone, June 2023

[@watsup6084]

The way you calmly explain your thought process and techniques is so helpful. As a suggestion I would try to do a before-after segment/shot at the end - it really illustrates well how you transform a bush into a mini tree by just pruning. You inspired me to just do clip and grow on some of my trees. All the best from switzerland.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks!!!!

[@johnnyhag675]

Really nice transformation of that spruce. Looking good already.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks!

[@mattsterofnone2989]

Looks great Nigel glad it’s in good hands

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Matt, I'll try my best!!!

[@judybuonocore1682]

Very helpful explanations.

[@donnajacobs1722]

Hi Nigel good to see you working on your rooms and exterior, I ‘be watched your videos since 2013 at the gravel pit , Enjoy your videos and all your friends thank you Chuck and Donna from Florida

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Cool, thanks!

[@apostlewoody]

Amazing......

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@coneflower5101]

I like the Alberta Spruce so much. Must get one. Thanks for the demo. Going to be a great tree. 🌲

[@AricMcT]

As always - I think it, Nigel does it, haha! Was just planning to build a Bonsai Bench and now here you are with this great new video... Thank you Nigel! Love it

[@darrel7382]

I love your brutal pruning and the explanation why you do it. I eckspecially love the blue shears

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Trees fear the Blue Scissors, lol!!

[@baldyeti]

Lookin forward to the plant room renovation! I’m diggin how you’re working your spruce, good sir. She is lookin fantastic

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Yeti!!!

[@bettedaviseyes8563]

Great job.. love this spruce and your vision for it.

[@severofalcon8429]

very nice spruce!... good.

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

A lot of work well done. Spruce looking really good.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks so much Tom!!!

[@filipegomes1520]

Nigel, what a beautiful tree!!!

[@OlufsWaterview]

Looking forward to the “bleacher project” in your plant room.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Me too, it will be nice to get it all set up!!

[@bonsaibythesea]

The fun never stops 😮

[@TheBonsaiZone]

So true!!!

[@nerinat8371]

The Spruce came up a treat, 😮

[@zahranourofficial]

Smile, you can be the best with a happy mind. I wish you a good day, friend.😍

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you! You too!

[@Tybold63]

I try make use of some of yer tips, as always so informative both in words and action.

[@egoebonsai37]

Nice Bonsai Sir. I am appretiate for your activity n hoby Bonsai.

[@FrostBiteBonsai]

Excellent to see you with a dwarf Alberta! I have a bunch of them Christmas tree clearance. Very sad they just get tossed in the trash after the holiday. Most I'm putting in the ground. The same size tree at the nurseries right now are over $100. I may do this again to reforest the area that the MTO and Hydro cleared for the new highway ramp where they took my property. Now I know I can overwinter them, I will have your tutorship to be able to style them too!! Bonus!!

[@stevetippin]

Is the spruce at (or close to) the final height that you had in mind? If so, how will you keep it at that height? Will you transfer it to a small pot and limit fertilizer or will you trim the apex and use the big blue scissors to maintain a profile that works with the overall design? Will you continue to ramify until the growth (upwards and outwards) is so slow that it does not really matter year over year?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I'll try and keep it to size as much as possible, I'll keep it in about the same size pot and see how it goes!!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I think pruning will be more selective in the future!

[@mavimcrobert7131]

Hi Nigel I been watching your videos for past 5 years or more very educational techniques you showed in the videos I have learned a lot from you so thankful, but your hair getting wild! 😜

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Cool, thanks!!

[@joegarland4885]

Hi Nigel good to see you pruning the Alberta spruce, I styled one a while back and have 4 more to do when I get round to it, the difference is I use wire to shape the branches, there’s no right or wrong way to do the work to reach the outcome you want, I think your tree just needs time to grow healthily to reach your desired style. Thanks for the video Nigel always interesting and thought provoking.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Awesome Joe!!!

[@watchandlearn5422]

How’s your Lemon Tree from seed doing?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It's doing really well!!

[@raymondplodzien7459]

Great job Nigel! I think spruces are challenging to prune correctly.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

So far it's still doing well, I hope it continues!!!

[@PlantObsessed]

We are getting smoke here in Illinois from the fires in Canada. Weird. It looks like it could rain any minute but nope. No rain for me😢

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It's always nice to get rain, we just had a good storm yesterday!!

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌👌

[@ganjananayormama6666]

❤️✌🏻

[@constantinepenguamo4050]

Alberta spruce branches tend to grow upwards when they are still small, so it's likely those bottom branches will have a tough time pointing downwards over time, if indeed that it the intent.

[@RyanFish825]

I was surprised this Alberta turned out so nicely tbh, I mean I'm sure it being transformed by the master had something to do with it... Thanks Nigel!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It's still doing well, I'm hoping for some good growth this summer!!

[@MrMosebey]

My birds nest spruce has similar buds but extended in the spring. Can spruce extend twice in one year?

[@constantinepenguamo4050]

Mine did

[@ganjananayormama6666]

I’m here

[@brennan353]

Perfect timing Nigel. I thought it was too late to do mine, so it will be done tomorrow!.. I am reaching the end of a large container of concentrated insecticidal soap. I notice yours is blue...what soap do you use on your trees?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Perfect!

[@muziknurd]

I recently purchased a dwarf alberta spruce from the garden center on impulse, and I'm here to make sure I don't absolutely destroy it 😅😅

[@TheBonsaiZone]

So far the tree is doing well, best of luck with yours!!!

[@dkstott29]

I'm regularly amazed that there's no mold that plant room. If it was me, I'd wash everything down with a diluted bleach solution before I moved plants back into the room.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I'll keep my eyes open, thanks!!

[@judybuonocore1682]

What kind of soap?

[@jotishnongthombam2773]

HOW U prepare the soap water ? for getting rid of the insects

[@TheBonsaiZone]

40 parts water to 1 part soap, is the general mix, on some trees you can go stronger, other trees need a weaker solution!

[@paulschaefer5241]

I know you recorded this last week. It was June at the time. The wonderful thing about youtube is I can watch it whenever I get the time. I was noticing today, July 1 that it is marked on the calendar as Canada Day in Canada. What exactly is Canada Day?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It's when Canada became a country, like the 4th of July in the States!

[@Chris-oq6kn]

Hey nigel have u ever been to the US national bonsai exhibition in rochester ny? I see its going on this year in september

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I'm hoping to go this year!!

[@Chris-oq6kn]

@@TheBonsaiZone i see alot of big names going must be the biggest show over here im guessing. Im still new going on 5 yrs but i cant wait to go. Ive never seen a show like this

[@andersnrregren9087]

I miss the birthday pine videos sad i did not see the growth last fall or this spring and i cant find it in any videos i must have missed it

[@TheBonsaiZone]

An update will be coming!!!

[@robbiepizzimenti2177]

I always though Alberta spruce pruning had to be done in the spring?

[@Stettafire]

I pruned mine over the winter

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Pinching the new growth should be done in spring, this type of work can be done once the tree is healthy and vigorous!

[@donnajacobs1722]

What happen to your 100 foot greenhouse

[@TheBonsaiZone]

A section of it will be put up some day!!

[@dubsydabster]

Foist