The copper beech (Fagus sylvatica)

The copper beech is a native tree and can be found in almost all European mixed forests. Its light gray bark and the fact that it retains its dry, brown leaves in winter are striking.

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GraftingShapingBonsai design

The copper beech as a bonsai requires special care. The root ball is very sensitive to frost and needs special protection in winter.

In order to be able to shape a blank that was collected as a yamadori or comes from a tree nursery into a bonsai, it is essential to carry out a thorough tree analysis. Of course, you have already checked the characteristics of the blank as a future bonsai before you collected or bought it. The first preliminary analysis is usually based on the trunk movement and branching; if you take a little more time, you will also look at the roots. The pre-selection of the raw plant is a very important factor and you should really take the time to check the selected plant for its suitability for bonsai.

Important criteria for a later bonsai design are conditions on the plant that are difficult or impossible to change.

The root base: is an important focal point for the later design, it should also match the trunk movement.

The movement of the trunk: A moving trunk gives the subsequent design more character than a straight trunk.

The branches and branch distribution: Not so important for deciduous trees, but not unimportant for conifers.

FOR CARE:

The copper beech as a bonsai requires special care. The root ball is very sensitive to frost and needs special protection in winter. In general, the copper beech loves plenty of light, but does not tolerate temperatures above 30 °C. A semi-shady location is therefore ideal in summer. The tree is generally happy with normal or slightly acidic soils. Between May and June, intensive spraying against mealybugs is usually necessary. Caution: The copper beech does not tolerate complete leaf pruning. However, light pruning is possible if the foliage is too dense (end of May to beginning of June).

Step 1

Here we see the copper beech (Fagus sylvatica) in its winter silhouette.

Step 2

This is our copper beech fresh from the nursery. At this point, it has already had 12 years of care.

Step 3

A summary of the progress of planning and construction over a period of two years.

Step 4

Here the beech was freshly repotted in a ceramic bowl for the first time in spring.

Step 5

Light pruning of copper beech: This vigorous tree sprouts a lot of foliage in spring, so that the crown quickly becomes too dense. As a result, the small branches on the inside no longer get enough light and the foliage needs to be lighter and airier overall.

step 6

At the end of May to the beginning of June, the leaves of the copper beech are ripe. The new branches are then cut back by two leaves.

step 7

If the leaves have become too large, we cut them back to the desired size.

step 8

Here is the result with the correctly pruned leaves.

step 9

In this step, half the crown is thinned out first.

step10

This is where the complete light pruning of the copper beech is finally carried out. Most of these trees are tip-dominant.
This means that the upper branches grow back more than the lower ones. We therefore have to prune back the top branches more and let the lower branches grow more. The lowest branches are therefore not pruned at all.

How to do it - Our expert tips

TIP

Caution: The copper beech does not tolerate complete leaf pruning. However, light pruning is possible if the foliage is too dense (end of May to beginning of June).

TIP

In general, the copper beech loves plenty of light, but does not tolerate temperatures above 30 °C. A semi-shady location is therefore ideal in summer.