Bonsai trees, or bonsai for short, are essentially smaller trees that, rather than growing in the ground, are confined to a small pot that stunts their growth.
They are very much thought of as Japanese trees, so if you are looking to get in touch with your green-fingered side inspired by Asia, it’s a great way to start with a beautiful bonsai.
However, in advance of this engaging activity, it is worth noting that you will need some requisite tooling to adequately care for your tree.
In this article – we will be looking at some of the tools you will be handling and discuss how you could be using them.
A Brief Introduction to Japanese Bonsai Tools
Many people wonder if they actually need special tools for maintaining their bonsai.
OK, in principle you could get away without them, but if you want to do it right, and making your tree as healthy as it can be, you will need to make sure you have the appropriate tools.
To generalise: bonsai tools are made from either stainless steel or carbon steel. Which is better? Well, there are pros and cons to each option.
For example, while carbon steel is incredibly affordable, it is incredibly prone to rusting, which means that you will have to replace your tools sooner than you would like.
Stainless steel is much more durable, but you will pay for the quality.
Type of Japanese Bonsai Tools You Have to Have
We will now walk you through a few of the products that can help you keep the care of your bonsai as manageable as possible.
Bonsai Shears
Although this is a matter of choice and what feels best for your hands, most people find that thin shears are easier to use when you first start out.
The other type are butterfly shears, which relates to the style of the handles.
Butterfly bonsai shears, which are sometimes called bonsai scissors, have much bigger handles that resemble a loop.
They are regularly used when pruning a tree’s canopy, and are usually more comfortable to handle.
But when you go in to prune the inner part (or body) of the tree, the big handles can get in the way, which is why thin shears are preferred.
Bonsai Root Cutters
Some people use their butterfly shears to prune the roots of their bonsai but a specialized tool is also available to achieve this.
The advantage of these specialized tools is that they are more robust and much better suited to cutting through tougher, soil bound roots.
Hand Pruners
Regardless of if you call them hand pruners or pruning shears, they’re all the same, equally essential to any caring for your bonsai.
Many would say that the hand shears are the most important and first tool you should buy.
Once again, your hand pruners are best when cutting thicker and denser spots of foliage and are excellent for tight areas.
But here’s where they’ll come into play: When Needed: They’ll also double up as root cutters if you like, though in your early days with just one tool these versatile pruners will get you through.
Bonsai Saws
Caring for a bonsai tree is not at all the same as caring for other trees, particularly if these trees are full sized.
It’s no wonder then that there are tools specifically made for bonsai and one of these tools is the bonsai saw.
The saws you may be familiar with have sharp teeth and a thin blade that is designed perfectly for precision purposes and for when you need to make a more delicate cut.
The great thing about these compared to some other cutting tools, is that you have much more contrôl over the cutting.
Wire
You will need wires to shape and train your bonsai tree and since there are different types available, you should decide which you will use ahead of time.
The most important factor when using wire is the thickness of the wire, which should not exceed a third of the diameter of the branch you are shaping.
There are two material types for bonsai wires that are the most common.
- Aluminum.
- Copper.
Aluminum wires are very pliable and easy to work with, making them ideal for anyone who is new to working with bonsai trees.
Copper wire can be very effective for shaping trees with thicker branches, as it is much stronger/material of; however, is probably not for beginners, as it is harder to manipulate since it is thicker.
In addition to choosing the wires, you’ll want to choose a suitable wire cutter to use on your bonsai.
Keep in mind: you may want a heavy duty cutter if you decide to use copper wire, however, a standard pair of wire cutters will suffice for aluminum wire.
Concave Cutters
There are many different bands of cutters that you’ll need for your bonsai trees and the concave cutter is one of the most necessary.
This is mainly because there are not other tools that you can use instead of a concave cutter. Meant for trimming, only a concave cutter will do the job, unlike scissors, which or shears that may work.
These cutters are mainly used as a way to make a clean cut of a branch with the trunk of the tree.
This is helpful for the tree because there won’t really be scarring or visible bumps along the trunk.
Concave cutters are extremely sharp and should be treated with care. They can be used to remove the bark of a bonsai tree.
Other Branch Cutters
Although not a necessity, there are a couple of other types of branch cutters that you might find helpful in the maintenance of your bonsai trees.
The flat branch cutter is exactly that, a cutter that utilises a flat edge instead of a curved blade that the concave cutter has, but it will still produce a nice clean cut.
Usually, flat ones are utilized for branches that are closer to the trunk.
If you’d want the best of both types, you can also find a hybrid cutter that serves both flat and concave cutter needs.
My take: The only downside I could think of with these tools is that they take a little longer to adjust to, so if you are new, these might not work for you.
Knob Cutters
One thing you probably couldn’t miss about the knob cutter is it’s unique shape.
The blades are rounded like when you’re cutting with a circle, the blades converge to a single point.
Allowing for a more aggressive cut for hardwood or taking off mass amounts of wood at once.
However, don’t be afraid you might think you can’t control this tool or it will be to aggressive on your tree. The knob cutter is very precise as this tool can cut cleanly.
Root Rakes/Claws
These tools are commonly known as root rakes or root claws but at the end of the day they are the same tool.
They are used for soil removal, and they will even comb the roots of your tree and break apart any big pieces. They can be really helpful when repotting your bonsai tree.
Just a friendly reminder: they are also great tools for aeriating your soil, but if you don’t take care you may create more damage to the roots than you may be helping.
Conclusion
Caring for a bonsai tree is one of the most rewarding hobbies around, and whether you are a beginner or have extensive bonsai experience, having the right tools for the job is crucial.
This list will give you a great place to start to assemble your bonsai toolkit for every eventuality.