Densifying foliage pads...

[leatherback]

Hi All,

With a number of my junipers (All chinensis cultivars) I am at the point that training now means creating dense foliage pads.

I have come to realize that just snipping out the shooting sections of the branch will cause the rest of the branchlets to grow faster, but does not lead to an increase in density; Rather, a new vigorous shoot emerges..

My thinking: Remove all the tips of the branchlets. and this way encourage the tree to have the buds all over wake up. However, I read a lot of discussions on 'pinching or not'. So I am in doubt on how to get the foliage pads to become dense, rather then have individual shoort grow bigger.

Any thoughts/recommendations?

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

You have some tutorials here on the site. http://www.bonsainut.com/index.php?resources/how-to-trim-and-establish-pads-junipers-pt1.18/
I use the same Technics. Pinching works on junipers that don't need to grow, or right before exhibition. Let it grow a bit, cut back to growing shoots, clean up the non growing foliage. Making 2 shoots from one does make it more dense. Feed and water well...

 

[leatherback]

Jay!