To
the beginner at bonsai there would seem to be a bewildering number
of tools available. However a large number of these tools are
designed to aid the bonsai enthusiast who is carrying out more
advanced techniques such as branch splitting, jinning or carving.
For your first attempts at bonsai practice, where basic maintenance
is essentially all that is being practiced, it is possible to
use basic tools that will do the job almost as well as specialist
tools. For a very basic tool kit, the following items can be used;
A pair of sharp scissors, wire cutters, secateurs (preferably
the 'by-pass' not the 'anvil' type), small nail scissors for fine
work and either a pointed steel hook or pointed piece of wood
for combing out roots.
When buying your first Japanese tools, it is possible to buy items
either individually or as part of small kits. Prices can vary
greatly but it is recommended that you purchase the best quality
tools that you can be afford. Cheap tools tend to be of Chinese
origin and are often made from mild steel which deteriorate relatively
quickly and can quickly lose their edge, requiring frequent sharpening.
Though Japanese-made tools are dearer, they are generally made
from better quality metals and can often last a lifetime.
All tools should be kept well-maintained; not only does regular
cleaning and sharpening increase the life of your tools, but blunt
and dirty tools will not cut through wood well and tend to 'crush'
rather than cut. Dirty tools also carry the risk of spreading
plant disease and tools should be sterilised in methylated spirits.
Plant sap collects on tool-blades easily, turning them black and
this can be removed with a wire brush or abrasive paper.
The first Japanese tools that tend to be acquired are scissors;
a long-handled pair (3) for trimming fine material such as delicate
twigs and leaves, and a second short-handled pair (1) for heavier
work such as root-cutting. Next a pair of angled side-cutters
(5) is recommended which enable branches to be cut cleanly and
accurately. Wire cutters (2) are recommended as they are designed
to cut cleanly through wire that is close to bark without causing
any damage. Lastly a pair of concave cutters (4) is highly recommended,
these have jaws that can create very clean, hollowed cuts when
pruning off branches.
USEFUL ACCESSORIES
As well as a basic tool kit it is worth investing in some essential
accessories which are frequently required for the practice of
bonsai.
Cut Paste or Wound Sealant is essential for protecting pruning
wounds. Pruning wounds that are sealed heal far quicker and are
less likely to become infected or dry out causing prolonged healing
time. Use a proprietary bonsai sealant as ordinary garden-tree
wound sealant can be difficult to remove once hardened and can
cause further damage. Alternatively, plasticine or modeling clay
mixed with a little olive oil makes an excellent cheaper alternative.
A repotting time Soil sieves are needed to remove fine particles
and dust from newly mixed bonsai soils. Root hooks are often used
for removing old soil from around bonsai roots and for combing
out though I would personally recommend using a mixture of hands
and a sharpened chopstick, as these cause less damage. When potting
on new material for the first time and for repotting
Drainage Mesh is essential for stopping bonsai soils from dropping
out through drainage holes in bonsai pots.
Additionally, a small knife, small hand saw and a turntable are
all items that though not essential, are commonly used.
WIRE
Wire is commonly used in bonsai to allow accurate shaping and
positioning of branches and trunks. It is also needed for anchoring
in newly potted trees and drainage mesh.
Wiring techniques will be outlined in another part of Bonsai4me,
but firstly it is necessary to source at least a small quantity
of different gauge wires ready for future use.
Custom made aluminum wire is readily available from bonsai outlets
and occasionally garden centres. It is worth investing in three
or four different gauge wires that should be able to deal with
shaping a variety of branch and trunk thickness. I would recommend
purchasing 1mm, 2mm, 3mm and 5mm gauges at first, 1mm wire is
likely to be the most frequently used size with 5mm only being
used on thick branches and trunks.
The Japanese traditionally use copper wire for its superior holding
power though it is now becoming less popular and is harder to
source.
It should be noted that plastic-coated wire available from garden
centres and a number of other alternatives to bonsai wire are
not only unsightly, have little 'holding' power but also contain
metals that can cause severe damage (sometimes with fatal consequences)
to trees when they come into contact with the cambium layer, the
'living tissue' of the tree.
