keeping trees trimmed in show appearance

The longer I work at making the collection of mine look fit, the more I'm reminded that there is a time and place when and how often to trim trees. Keeping most trees looking good with constant trimming, tends to shortly frustrate trees and cause them to loose ther vigor after a few short years.
What would you contribute from your experience on when and how often to trim your trees. What differences do you find with even the different evergreen types?
For example, I love our native hemlocks and really find it best to trim back only when they have finished extending their new growth and Not constantly before. So they do get out of shape during the year but constant
work tends to lead to early discouragement....

i dont have enough experience to contribute beyond "let it run and whack it back" but i saw this post slipping down the list and was hoping to learn from some replies from the experienced...

so consider this a bump !

Ryan Neil does a good job of catagorizing kinds of trees and detailing when and why ( and how) to do it.

Generalized shape and remembering that it takes about 3 years to get a tree ready for serious exhibitions [ which we don't have done here ]
Later
Khaimraj

I was told that the Masters in Japan do not work their trees until display (show) time. Once the display/show is over, the tree is left to grow naturally until its next outing. Has anyone else heard or seen this?

Jane

Jaybirds wrote:I was told that the Masters in Japan do not work their trees until display (show) time.  Once the display/show is over, the tree is left to grow naturally until its next outing.  Has anyone else heard or seen this?  

Jane

I don't think so. They may not keep it perfectly in shape, but you have to maintain the tree -- keep it wired, and not let the branches extend too long and thicken up too much, etc.

Walter Pall has a thread on this site named something like The Hedge Cutting Method... where he shares his ideas on this very subject.

It seems to me that most all shows are in the fall or winter, not during the growing seasons. In other words, ... (I won't run on).

one of the comments I just watched on a video, from a japanese judge following the 4th national here in the states, was that he actually enjoyed seeing deciduous trees with their leaves still on So I quess it's alright.

Had same mentality with my other hobby of koi. Japan major shows in late fall early winter. states right in the middle of growing season when the colors are down because fish are growing and stretching color plates.

Each has it's own set of challenges.

depends where you live, what the weather is like, how many shows you have, how many trees you have close to being show ready, and how rapidly what you are growing grows. I guess it also matters whether you are growing bonsai to sell (need them to look nice for buyers) or as a hobby. tropicals grow year around, rapidly and require more attention if you have to be ready for several shows over a short display season. if shows are few , then a balance between letting the trees grow wild and keeping them within striking distance makes sense. keeping trees razor sharp all the time is neither necessary or good for the tree.

best wishes, sam