Kusamura Bonsai Club

Making a Group Planting

	From the January 2002 Meeting
	Sandy Planting began her presentation by discussing a seven-tree group planting done by our long-term member, Pete Sugawara, under the tutelage of Yuji Yoshimura more than thirty-five years ago. She drew our attention to several elements of the design that are characteristic of successful group plantings. An uneven number of trees. Arrangements of odd numbers of trees are more dynamic and interesting than those composed of an even number. If more than fifteen trees are used, "stop counting." A shallow oval or rectangular pot is preferable to other shapes. An arrangement in which no trunk appears to cross another when viewed from any direction. The projected shape of the group taken as a whole should be a scalene triangle. The tree trunks should vary in girth. The distance between trees should be varied. The trees should not be planted in straight lines. (when viewed from front or side.) Within these guidelines, the trees can be arranged in any way the artist wishes, e.g., one or more groups separated from one another; a grouping with all the small trees in front; or a grouping with all the larger trees in front. While in most group plantings the trees are straight, three, five, or seven trees could be planted as though windswept. The soil surface may be flat or piled up to represent a hilly terrain. Sandy put screen over the holes in her pot and passed a number of long wires through the holes. These would be used later to tie the plants firmly together and to the pot. She arranged the trees on two hills. She took the trees from their liners and almost completely bare-rooted them. She trimmed the roots. (She said that the rule is to cut 50% off the roots and 50% off the tops of the trees.) By taking off most of the soil, she was able to plant some of the trees very close together. She placed the trees and wired them in, saying that that in a year or two she would wire the trees individually and shape them. To wire them at this time would harm the important small hair roots too much. Sandy said that it is best to use trees of only one kind in a group planting because of differences in plants' growth rates and needs. (After a few years, mixed plantings usually no longer look good.) After a few years, group plantings will need repotting. The roots will be cut back as though the group were one tree. Below are three pictures of a tree Sandy helped produce at a workshop following her talk. This is a "left group" -- where all the trees are grouped on a hill on the left side of the pot. Front View -- Notice that no straight lines are seen from this angle. The number 1 (largest) tree is prominent in the front of the group, with number 2 (slightly smaller) and 3 (smaller again) trees on either side. The smaller trees are located behind these trees. Side View -- Notice that no straight lines are seen from this angle

Last Updated January 27, 2002.

Copyright © 2002, by Kusamura Bonsai Club. All Rights Reserved.