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Step Two Wiring & Shaping

Step Two Wiring & Shaping 
Once you can clearly see the trunk line and branches you may begin to make artistic decisions regarding the final appearance of your bonsai.  As mentioned earlier, these decisions should be based on your clear under- standing of the fundamentals of bonsai design and will be applied to each type of plant material on which you work in the future.  Find a front for the tree based on the trunk move- ment and nebari.  Select its first, second and back branch- es.  Determine an apex and the placement of all second- ary branching.  Remove all others.  In a word... Cut off anything that does not look like a bonsai.

(The material must first be cleaned up so that you can see the trunk shape and position of branches along the trunk.  Remove dead plant material and sucker growth along the trunk and about an inch out the base of each branch.)

We know this is easy to say and not so easy to do, but proceed slowly and carefully.  Remember that it is bet- ter to leave a branch on the tree, wire it and try to work it into the final composition than to remove it first and later discover  that is was needed.  Let the Japanese concept of  “less is more,” guide you in this.
You are trying to make the most dramatic statement possible  by using the fewest amount of words... or in this case, branches. In the case of this juniper we have decided to move the top of the trunk to a different location.
We will adjust this and the branch positions by using wire. A  main line trunk wire of sufficient thickness to hold the bend in the apex is inserted into the soil about an inch or so to anchor it.  It is then wrapped up the trunk, snug against same and at about a forty-five degree angle perpendicular to the line of the trunk.
Once this is completed, branches may be wired.  Al- ways use one piece of wire to wrap and bend two branch- es.  Since the branches are thinner, the wire used may be smaller, but still of sufficient thickness to hold the branch in place once it is bent.
Hold the branch securely between your thumb and forefinger and wrap the wire around the branch. Then, with the second half of the wire make at least one turn around the trunk  (more of necessary) following the path of the main line trunk wire until you can go out the second branch .  Repeat this process until all branches remaining in your design have been wrapped in wire. Proceed from heavier branches and heavier wire to smaller branches and smaller wire. When going up the trunk, follow the line of the existing wire and try to avoid crossing wires when- ever possible.

(Start by inserting a main line trunk wire about 2 inches into the root mass to secure it.)



(Complete the wiring process for every branch on the tree.  Smaller branches will need smaller wire to secure them for bending. )

 

(Coil the wire around the trunk )
 
When all branches are wired it becomes possible to move them and the apex into the positions which you feel are best for your final design. Go slowly in this pro- cess.  If you feel the branch cracking or splitting away from the trunk... stop.  Junipers are fairly supple plants and branches usually move into desired positions with minimal difficulty.  This is not so with all species of plants.  Inter- estingly enough, you will be less likely to break and crack branches if the juniper’s root mass is allowed to go slightly dry before the wiring process.  Nevertheless, you are bound to crack a few branches and scuff a little bark during this first attempt.  If the crack or break is serious, trying sealing it with one of the many tree sealers available for bonsai.  If you don’t have any available, try using a little Elmer’s glue.  It’s not toxic, drys clear and makes an airtight seal. If the branch does not re- main in the position you wish it may be necessary to apply a second wrap around that particular branch with another wire... or simply remove the first wire and replace it with one of sufficient thickness to do the job.


(Left: Once wired, the tree’s apex and all branches may be bent and moved to the required positions.  Below:  The tree, with all branches in desired position needs only to have the length of each branch adjusted to achieve a triangular shape and  proper asymetrical balance.) 

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