Detailed Explanation of the Key Techniques for Pruning and Shaping Chinese Hackberry (Celtis sinensis) Bonsai

  Chinese hackberry is commonly found growing wild beside hillside streams and valleys in the hilly and low-mountain areas of the Yangtze River basin and regions to its south. Ancient, curiously shaped old sprout-origin stumps that have been cut back for many years can be collected and grown on to "develop the stump." Through pruning, root development is encouraged and new shoots are stimulated, after which the tree is shaped and cultivated; after 1-2 years, it is then potted up and worked on further, making it possible to produce a vigorous, aged-looking Chinese hackberry bonsai in a relatively short period.

  Stumps collected from the wild have relatively thick branches and trunks, so pruning is mainly done using the Lingnan method of high-branch trunk chopping, combined with the auxiliary technique of wiring with metal wire for better results.

  For seedling-grown Chinese hackberry, the principles for branch training and shaping should be mainly bracing and pulling, with wiring as a supplementary method and pruning as a secondary one. Pruning of Chinese hackberry should follow the guiding idea of suppressing the strong and supporting the weak, adjusting and controlling the balanced growth of branches and promoting even distribution of nutrients.

  For new branches that have not yet reached the desired thickness, do not rush to prune them; let them grow freely to speed up shoot extension and thickening. For branches that have reached the desired thickness, retain a certain amount of foliage and branches when pruning to prevent branch dieback.

  In principle, Chinese hackberry should not be pruned in the first year; let it grow rampant, as this is beneficial for promoting rooting and thickening of branches. Only after leaf fall in late autumn should excess clustered useless buds be thinned out appropriately, balanced branches and clustered branches be removed, and simple pruning and wiring be done on some branches that have reached the desired thickness, adjusting branch direction and guiding branch growth and development.

  Chinese hackberry grows quickly, with branches growing upright, poor flexibility and little variation. After surviving, Chinese hackberry thickens rapidly in the second year, and pruning and wiring during the growing season are very important. Once branches reach a certain thickness, they should be pruned and wired promptly.