Attila Soos
Omono
I recently purchased Dr. Shigo's book Tree pruning, a worldwide photo guide. This book is mostly pictures, showing the results of his decades of research on tree pruning.
I have to admit that after reading the book I am totally guilt-ridden, and emotionally torn.
On the one hand, I love and appreciate bonsai. On the other hand, many of accepted bonsai practices go entirely against Dr. Shigo's research results.
The two main areas of controversy are "Flush cuts" and "Toppings". In bonsai we extensivey use both. We cut the branches with concave cutter (or spherical cutter) for aesthetic reasons: to prevent the formation of buldges and stubs. In Shigo's view flush cuts are the worst, since it prevents the tree from properly compartmentalize the damaged and infected area. Flush cut destroys the tree's defense system and the tree will struggle all its life to overcome this.
The correct way to cut a branch is to remove it at the end of the "branch collar" (this is a small swelling at the base of the branch). The problem is that if we do this on a bonsai, the tree will end up with a swelling at the site of the removed branch.
Same with trunk chops. According to Shigo, trunk chop causes the inevitable rotting of the inner wood. And he has pictures to prove it. Topping also destroys the dignity of the tree (he often mentions this notion of "tree dignity").
So, now, when I look at my field-grown collection of bonsai material, and think of the multiple trunk-chops, flush cuts, and countless other forms of scarring and mutilations, I can't help but see them as disease-ridden, crippled creatures, robbed of their dignity, and desperately struggling to survive. And if I had a way to see a cross-section of these little trees, I would probably see all the dark spots, and dead trunks impregnated with rot-causing fungi.
How is this compatible with our love of trees? Or it may be that all this love is just plain hypocrisy: we don't really love the trees, we just love the IDEA of a tree and what this idea represents. If we really loved the tree, we wouldn't harm them to such extent. I am not implying that trees have conscience and they suffer because of us. But it is the inevitable truth that in the process of shaping a nice trunk with lots of character, a large portion of the tree becomes infected, sick, damaged, and dead.
We cause all this harm to the tree to seek aesthetic pleasure.
I have to admit, that when I work on creating field-grown material, I am rather ruthless in chopping, cutting, and shaping my material, with total disregard to the tree's needs - other than keeping the tree alive. In light of all the poetry and often spiritual approach to bonsai, is such a treatment ethical?
Dr. Shigo's findings are often in conflict with arborists. In many cases, arborist perform these practices knowing that they are harmful, but also aware that their business needs these techiques in order to survive.
My question is this: do you think that we should change our bonsai practices in order to produce healthier and happier trees - even at the expense of aesthetic requirements of bonsai? Or may be the end result justifies the means?
One thing is sure: regardless of whether I change my practices in the future, I will be much more aware of what I am doing to my trees. And that will inevitably lead to subtle changes in what I do to them.
(The picture below shows the dire effect of a trunk chop, and is from the website: http://www.ci.palm-coast.fl.us/resident/pcparadise/trimming.htm)
I have to admit that after reading the book I am totally guilt-ridden, and emotionally torn.
On the one hand, I love and appreciate bonsai. On the other hand, many of accepted bonsai practices go entirely against Dr. Shigo's research results.
The two main areas of controversy are "Flush cuts" and "Toppings". In bonsai we extensivey use both. We cut the branches with concave cutter (or spherical cutter) for aesthetic reasons: to prevent the formation of buldges and stubs. In Shigo's view flush cuts are the worst, since it prevents the tree from properly compartmentalize the damaged and infected area. Flush cut destroys the tree's defense system and the tree will struggle all its life to overcome this.
The correct way to cut a branch is to remove it at the end of the "branch collar" (this is a small swelling at the base of the branch). The problem is that if we do this on a bonsai, the tree will end up with a swelling at the site of the removed branch.
Same with trunk chops. According to Shigo, trunk chop causes the inevitable rotting of the inner wood. And he has pictures to prove it. Topping also destroys the dignity of the tree (he often mentions this notion of "tree dignity").
So, now, when I look at my field-grown collection of bonsai material, and think of the multiple trunk-chops, flush cuts, and countless other forms of scarring and mutilations, I can't help but see them as disease-ridden, crippled creatures, robbed of their dignity, and desperately struggling to survive. And if I had a way to see a cross-section of these little trees, I would probably see all the dark spots, and dead trunks impregnated with rot-causing fungi.
How is this compatible with our love of trees? Or it may be that all this love is just plain hypocrisy: we don't really love the trees, we just love the IDEA of a tree and what this idea represents. If we really loved the tree, we wouldn't harm them to such extent. I am not implying that trees have conscience and they suffer because of us. But it is the inevitable truth that in the process of shaping a nice trunk with lots of character, a large portion of the tree becomes infected, sick, damaged, and dead.
We cause all this harm to the tree to seek aesthetic pleasure.
I have to admit, that when I work on creating field-grown material, I am rather ruthless in chopping, cutting, and shaping my material, with total disregard to the tree's needs - other than keeping the tree alive. In light of all the poetry and often spiritual approach to bonsai, is such a treatment ethical?
Dr. Shigo's findings are often in conflict with arborists. In many cases, arborist perform these practices knowing that they are harmful, but also aware that their business needs these techiques in order to survive.
My question is this: do you think that we should change our bonsai practices in order to produce healthier and happier trees - even at the expense of aesthetic requirements of bonsai? Or may be the end result justifies the means?
One thing is sure: regardless of whether I change my practices in the future, I will be much more aware of what I am doing to my trees. And that will inevitably lead to subtle changes in what I do to them.
(The picture below shows the dire effect of a trunk chop, and is from the website: http://www.ci.palm-coast.fl.us/resident/pcparadise/trimming.htm)
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