June at Bonsaï Galinou: pruning, repotting and new products at the nursery

June is an intense and exciting time for bonsai enthusiasts. At Bonsai Galinou Nursery, this transition from late spring to early summer marks several key stages in tree care. Here's an overview of our technical tips, seasonal advice, and new products this month.

Why prune hardwoods in June?

The first or second pruning of hardwood trees (such as maples, elms, hornbeams, etc.) is generally done between May and June. This step is essential to:

• Stimulate a second, thinner, denser, and more resilient shoot,
• Maintain the tree's harmonious shape,
• Prevent the development of overly vigorous and poorly positioned branches.

How to proceed?

• Use sharp scissors.
• Prune back any young shoots that are too long or poorly oriented.
• Leave a margin of 1 to 2 pairs of leaves on each branch.

Proper pruning ensures elegant branching for the rest of the season.

Prune after flowering: azaleas, myrtles, etc.

After azaleas and myrtles bloom, it's essential to prune them to:

• Restore a clear shape to the tree,
• Stimulate new growth for the following year,
• Prevent energy from being wasted on useless fruit or seeds.

Traditional pruning of thunbergii pines

As we do every year, we carefully carried out the seasonal pruning of our Japanese black pines (Pinus thunbergii), affectionately nicknamed "Pinus Galinus" by some enthusiasts! This is an essential step at the nursery—at once technical, physical, and highly symbolic.

This meticulous pruning allows us to:

• control the vigor of the shoots (new shoots),
• promote harmonious and balanced growth throughout the tree,
• maintain the desired aesthetics and structure for each specimen.

> Please note : Pine trees are generally pruned before June. This is the last time to effectively prune, before the shoots lignify (harden) and the tree focuses all its energy on its summer growth.

A ritual we passionately perpetuate, respecting the tree's natural rhythm and the traditions of Japanese gardening.

Late repotting: still possible… but not for everyone!

In June, repotting is only possible for certain species :

• Deciduous trees only, and provided that:
  • The tree is healthy,
  • The substrate is depleted or too compact,
  • The weather conditions are moderate (no extreme heat)

We completely avoid repotting conifers at this time.

Other sizes made at the nursery

Zamias

Zamias, although less common as bonsai, also require pruning:

• To remove old leaves,
• To encourage denser, more even growth.

Ficus

Tropical ficus trees (retusa, nitida, etc.) can be pruned at the end of June:

• Reduce long, limp shoots,
• Shape the shape,
• The ambient warmth encourages rapid recovery.

A group photo under the sign of transmission

We had the pleasure of welcoming Louis this month, a young second-year intern passionate about the world of bonsai (he already has a beautiful collection and solid knowledge!) with whom we took our group photo. This photo symbolizes our team spirit as well as the passion transmitted for more than 40 years, and our desire to bring bonsai to life with authenticity and good humor !

Our new products for June

This month, several new items have been added to our collection:

• Jasmines
• Our new myrtles
• Cotoneasters
• Strawberry trees
• Ficus retusa and Ficus nitida
• Sawara cypress
• New oaks

Our shipments are always carefully prepared and designed to withstand the summer heat: bubble wrap, wooden boxes, and shipping early in the week.

We remind you that if we deem the conditions unsuitable for shipments (e.g., heatwaves), we reserve the right to postpone them.

In summary: what to do with your bonsai in June?

The final word

Each month represents a milestone in caring for your trees. June is one of the most technically intensive months: pruning, maintenance, targeted repotting, but also sharing and renewal.

See you in July for more practical advice and new discoveries!