I need a critique - Needle Juniper

[Scott Roxburgh]

[
ps. I also heard somoene recently ( cannot remeber where) say that they never Pluck a juni, but only cut with scissors and they have not had any problems doing so. Thi avoids all the spikes

Only for wimps. I finger pluck all my junipers have worked hard all my life and belting my kids.
When they stepped outa line my hands are very hard as is my heart and my skin.

Gold!

[anttal63]

I FOR ONE dont pluck junis and not because my hands are too soft. but because it produces better results. plucking can be ok if done methodically. but when done random for the sake of fitting a pad into an outline, it just creats caos in the regrowth. these are boon manakanavit's techniques, i ve done both and totally agree with his way. besides im a hairdresser not an eyebrow plucker

[kcpoole]

besides im a hairdresser not an eyebrow plucker

LOL

Personally I pluck mine unless I have to remove a lerge amount of material. Then i will cut

[Grant Bowie]

I also heard somoene recently ( cannot remeber where) say that they never Pluck a juni, but only cut with scissors and they have not had any problems doing so. This avoids all the spikes

That may have been me. For the last 30 plus years I have never had fingernails worth a damn so I avoided pinching and pruning with fingernails and fingers, and only ever cut out carefully with scissors.

That way you are always selecting and thinning the top of the tree compared to the weaker lower portions.

Works for Junipers and Chamaecyparis.

[Leigh Taafe]

I have always pinched and plucked, but now that you mention it, it is not such a bad idea to help the tree from bulking up too much.

Cheers,
Leigh.

[BoNZai]

So, Ken, Antal, Grant and Leigh,

As I understand you guys do not pluck or pinch the Junis & Chamaeys but prefer to uses siccors. Anything I have read suggests to pinch for the only reason that you don't get the burn marks from the scissors. Stainless steel scissors would minimise that correct? Also keeping the tree misted and in the shade would help in preventing the sap from doing damageI I guess.

I have always pinched and plucked for ramification but it is very time consuming, especially with sausage fingers and minimal finger nails.

I have great difficulty working on Juniper procumbens 'Nana' so I want to get some reassurance that stainles steel scissors will do the trick

Cheers

BoNZai

[anttal63]

i dont use stainless scissors on bonsai. i dont believe that has any bearing. what does matter is that thinning is done methodically and meticulously. growth is pricisely divided into 2 at the very bases, where you need to dictate the direction of further growth or keep the direction of existing growth. pinching could be done this way but in most cases i've seen, its very random and slap dash. if the scissors are approached in this way the result is the same. a mess. browning tips either way can happen but the point here is that you get your growth to grow in the direction you need it to. i hope you understand what im trying to say.

[BoNZai]

thanks Antonio,

I totally agree and understand the principles, my question relates to preferences and practicalities I guess. Scissors would be easier and more accurate compared to pinching keeping above priciples foremost in mind

BoNZai

[anttal63]

thanks Antonio,

I totally agree and understand the principles, my question relates to preferences and practicalities I guess. Scissors would be easier and more accurate compared to pinching keeping above priciples foremost in mind

BoNZai

correct.

[Pup]

There is a big difference, in pinching, and thinning. I pinch to maintain the profile of the tree.

I thin (with Scissors ) to maintain the ramification.

I have found over many years that working a tree constantly, Is like us working all the time we get jaded and need a holiday.
So for at least one season I let each tree.
Have its head and grow freely to regain its strength.

Then if it is a juniper it has to be cut back with scissors. Then the profile is maintained by pinching.

Cheers Pup

[Bretts]

besides im a hairdresser not an eyebrow plucker

LOL

Personally I pluck mine unless I have to remove a large amount of material. Then i will cut

I did notice you had well groomed eyebrows

I always figured the only reason scissors browned the end was becasue the leaves where cut in half. Hence when they died back you where left with brown ends. I figure if you use the scissors carefully and only cut the stem not the leaves then there will be no browning?

[Pup]

besides im a hairdresser not an eyebrow plucker

LOL

Personally I pluck mine unless I have to remove a large amount of material. Then i will cut

I did notice you had well groomed eyebrows

I always figured the only reason scissors browned the end was becasue the leaves where cut in half. Hence when they died back you where left with brown ends. I figure if you use the scissors carefully and only cut the stem not the leaves then there will be no browning?

You are right Bretts on all points

[BoNZai]

The browning process occurrs when the sugars from the wound are exposed to the air, same as when you cut an apple in half and leave it for a while. Natural healing process and no problem as it is unavoidable.

My question is why it is recommended to stay away from Junis with any scissors and use finger pinching only when it comes to shortening new growth

BoNZai

[anttal63]

brett its easy to have a well groomed eyebrow

[Pup]

The browning process occurrs when the sugars from the wound are exposed to the air, same as when you cut an apple in half and leave it for a while. Natural healing process and no problem as it is unavoidable.

My question is why it is recommended to stay away from Junis with any scissors and use finger pinching only when it comes to shortening new growth

BoNZai

If that is the case why then does it not brown when pinched. You will also not that when animals chew the tips they do not brown.
Why is this so?