Setting up redwoods for bonsai work: step 0

Before getting to the pruning, wiring, and styling steps, I like to get trees healthy before working on them. For coast redwoods, this usually means repotting and giving them a year or two to regain vigor before going any further.

That was the case for a batch of small redwoods I picked up from Bob Shimon at Mendocino Coast Bonsai this winter.

Most of the soil fell away when I repotted them so the trees were essentially bare-rooted. When that happens I want to encourage as much new growth as possible for at least a full year before doing any significant pruning.

The main exception to this is that I’ll remove any basal growth to encourage the tree to invest in branches that emerge higher on the trunk.

Here’s an example of this.

Redwood with shoots growing at the base of the trunk

After removing basal and root shoots

I went through the same process for all of the trees from this batch.

Redwood #2

Redwood #3

Redwood #4

Two of the trees produced large shoots which makes me think they had more roots to start with. I reduced the basal growth as before and lightly trimmed the uppermost shoots.

Redwood #5 – before

Redwood #5 – after

Redwood #6 – before

Redwood #6 – after

Going forward I’ll remove basal growth whenever I see it. Depending on the total amount of new shoots the trees produce this year, I’ll either start training them as bonsai next year or the year after (see steps one and two for details).