Shimpaku - backbud?

somegeek

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I've read that Shimpakus will backbud on newer wood however, I don't understand what that means in regards to clearing out for new growth. Does this mean I can cutback as far as the red lines in the image below on thin inner growth and new shoots will come out of the side of the green marked stems that remain to form newer, fuller foliage?

Appreciate any input.

somegeek
 

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Bonsai Nut

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Generally, yes. However you have to take into account the balance of strength of the rest of the tree. If you cut back one part of the tree, but leave the rest untrimmed, the tree will have a tendency to shift its strength to the untrimmed portions. When trying to force backbudding on junipers, it is important to view the tree as a whole, start when the tree is pushing the strongest growth of the season, make sure it is strong and healthy, etc. Otherwise if you just trim a single branch like you have highlighted, it may die back rather than bud.
 

DaveV

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HI Somegeek, It looks like heathy green foliage. However, it looks like you have scales ( a type of sap sucking insect) on your shimpaku. Those white little egg looking domes on the foliage ( the eggs of the insect are under these scales/ domes).
 

somegeek

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Thanks for the replies.

Noted regarding the scales. The tree this came off of was very compact and crowded. I've opened it up and removed some material(much more airflow). Hopefully this is breathing more so these scales won't reappear after I get some insecticidal soap on them.

somegeek
 

garywood

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Geek, as Nut and Dave have said, there is a method to this madness and you have to have a clear picture, total picture. A shot of the whole tree would help because you want buds where YOU want them and not just random buds. Where you cut and how much depends on several things; health and vigor, environmental conditions (sun) where is the tree within, time of year etc. Most all trees backbud to some degree, it's a survival mechanism that we have to exploit that's most advantageous for our purpose. As bonsaiest we should know what every bud,leaf or branch on the tree is doing and why. We should know what each will be in five or ten years. When everything goes perfect in bonsai it still takes a long time so it's important to do things that speed the process and not hinder.
Wood
 

somegeek

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Geek, as Nut and Dave have said, there is a method to this madness and you have to have a clear picture, total picture. A shot of the whole tree would help because you want buds where YOU want them and not just random buds. Where you cut and how much depends on several things; health and vigor, environmental conditions (sun) where is the tree within, time of year etc. Most all trees backbud to some degree, it's a survival mechanism that we have to exploit that's most advantageous for our purpose. As bonsaiest we should know what every bud,leaf or branch on the tree is doing and why. We should know what each will be in five or ten years. When everything goes perfect in bonsai it still takes a long time so it's important to do things that speed the process and not hinder.
Wood

Thanks for this. I was trying to get an understanding of how well Shimpakus can backbud to understand what's possible with the material I have vs writing off branches because they won't backbud(like a hinoki?). I have a rough plan for this tree in particular.
 

garywood

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Geek, I don't mean to sound like a broken record (does anyone know what a record is) but where do you want it to backbud? Even Hinoki backbud, it's just a matter doing the right things at the right time.
 

somegeek

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Geek, I don't mean to sound like a broken record (does anyone know what a record is) but where do you want it to backbud? Even Hinoki backbud, it's just a matter doing the right things at the right time.

Okay - so given the above pictured branch were still attached to the tree on the left side. Say I cut back the branch to the red lines noted below in the attachment. Would new shoots come out of the bases of the stubs attached to the branch? If I removed this younger branch all together leaving a 1/4" stub on the tree(no foliage - just a brown stump), would a shoot come out at the base of that stub on the trunk?

somegeek
 

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garywood

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Geek, I don't mean to sound evasive but giving yes or no answers would be irresponsible of me because there is no context and what we print is forever. However,to your point, it might or it might not.
 

october

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Hello somegeek.. I know that it may be confusing here becasue there seems to be some different assessments here....

First, where you are designating in red. You should not cut these where you designated, these are just needles which will probably die if cut there. When you cut, you want to cut back to a joint or tuft of foliage. Normally, the needls you are showing are completely removed when the tree is cleaned up. When you cut, you should either cut the brown wood or back to the scale foliage joint.

Unfortunately, I do not have a shimpaku foliage close up pic.. However, here is an arbovitae which can demonstrate where you would cut, if it was a shimpaku... Notice I am cutting back to a joint.

Rob
 

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somegeek

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Hello somegeek.. I know that it may be confusing here becasue there seems to be some different assessments here....

First, where you are designating in red. You should not cut these where you designated, these are just needles which will probably die if cut there. When you cut, you want to cut back to a joint or tuft of foliage. Normally, the needls you are showing are completely removed when the tree is cleaned up. When you cut, you should either cut the brown wood or back to the scale foliage joint.

Unfortunately, I do not have a shimpaku foliage close up pic.. However, here is an arbovitae which can demonstrate where you would cut, if it was a shimpaku... Notice I am cutting back to a joint.

Rob

This sheds some light. Thanks for posting this! :)

somegeek
 
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