Now make a second layer, but darker than the previous.And only draw in the areas I did .The carpel are black, but don’t make the black yet, you’ll see why in a few steps.
How to prune a tree
Tree pruning may seem a daunting task, but some timely and well-considered pruning keeps trees healthy, encourages a well-shaped canopy and helps to control size.
Remove a branch by sawing just beyond the branch collar
Quick facts
- The size, shape and vigour of a tree can be influenced by pruning
- It is important to consider the tree’s natural habit and work with it
- Pruning can help to control pest and disease problems
Jump to
- Getting started
- How to prune a tree in ten simple steps
- Tree pruning – frequently asked questions
- Helpful videos
- Pruning saw
- Secateurs
- Loppers
- Long-handled pruning saw (large trees)
- Ladder (large trees)
- Gloves
- Safety googles
- Head protection (large trees)
Top Tip
When pruning out diseased wood, clean your pruning tools with disinfectant between cuts.
How to prune a tree in ten simple steps
Ensure you have suitable tools
Make sure blades are sharp, as this makes pruning easier. Sharp tools also create clean cuts, improving the chances of them healing well.
Consider what you want to achieve by pruning
If your tree is casting too much shade, thin out its branches. If it is taking up too much space, consider removing some lower branches (crown lifting) to create space under the canopy for plants or people. Tree shaping, done well, can enhance the natural features of a tree.
Remove the three D’s
Start by removing dead, diseased and damaged branches, followed by weak or lax growth. Remove branches rubbing together, as this could create an entry point for disease.
Assess the tree from different angles
Identify what else you want to remove. Avoid removing more than one fifth of the canopy in any one year. Hard pruning can encourage lots of vigorous upright growth known as watershoots, so can be counterproductive if you are aiming to reduce the size or thin the canopy of your tree.
Prepare to remove larger branches
Use an undercut and an overcut to prevent tearing. Firstly, make a shallow cut into the underside of the branch about 20cm (8in) out from where your final cut will be. Secondly, make a shallow cut into the topside of the branch about 2.5cm (1in) further along (towards the branch tip).
Remove larger branches
Remove pruning stubs
After a large branch has been sawn off, remove the stub by sawing through it just outside the branch collar (the slight swelling, sometimes wrinkled, where the branch joins the trunk or a thicker branch). Hold the stub while sawing, to take its weight and avoid tearing. Don’t cut flush to the trunk because the collar is the tree’s natural protective zone where healing takes place.
Prune thin branches
Prune branches less than 2.5cm (1in) in diameter, with secateurs or loppers, cutting 0.5cm (¼in) above a healthy bud, pair of buds or side shoot. Avoid cutting too close to the bud, as this can cause it to die, or too far from the bud, as this can result in dieback of the stub, which could spread into healthy wood. Where possible, cut to an outward-facing bud or branch to encourage a well-shaped canopy.
Thin out thicker branches
When branches thicker than 2.5cm (1in) in diameter need pruning, it’s best to remove them completely rather than leave a stub. Prune back to the main trunk, a thicker branch or to a side shoot at least one-third the diameter of the branch you are removing.
Stand back to reassess the tree
Step 2.
Now draw the first flower, don’t go into details very much ,it will not matter because in the end this will be blurry.
Now draw the bud. This has a bit more detail and as you can see I used thinner lines .
This is my finished sketch.
Step 6.
We’ll work in layers. Use a hard pencil,HB or 2B, don’t press too hard on the paper, you’ll need to smudge later.
2023 cherry blossom forecast
At the beginning of each year, the cherry blossom forecast is eagerly awaited. Broadcast on national television, viewers will anticipate when best to hold their hanami flower viewing parties.
The 2023 cherry blossom season in Tokyo is forecast to begin on March 22. It normally takes about one week to 10 days from flowering to full bloom.
Note: Forecast is according to data from the Japan Weather Association, February 28, 2023.
Tokyo is full of well-known as well as hidden spots for viewing blossoms. However, for the full hanami experience, soak up the vibrant atmosphere of a festival. We’ve selected seven popular events where you can admire the flowers’ ephemeral beauty and join Tokyoites in having fun and welcoming the spring.
Nakameguro Sakura-matsuri Festival
The hip yet laid-back neighborhood of Nakameguro is full of trendy coffee shops and cafes. Yet in spring its quiet canal becomes more like a carnival as lanterns line the avenues and food stalls set up shop, selling drinks and snacks to the crowds thronging the streets. The draw is some 800 trees lining a 3.8-kilometer- long stretch form a pale pink arch over the river. Viewable from bridges over the water, the reflections shimmer like magic and make for pictures so stunning it’s hard to believe they are real.
Rikugien Gardens
There is a word in Japanese known as “yozakura” and it is definitely something worth experiencing. Literally, “night sakura,” the blossoms are lit up in night creating an otherworldly ethereal scene that is hauntingly beautiful. One of the best examples is the weeping cherry at Rikugien. The gardens were constructed in 1702 by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu, a feudal lord and vassal to the shogun (military commander), who was inspired by the picturesque scenes in waka poetry. Walking past the front gate within the gardens brings into view an impressive 70-year-old shidarezakura (weeping cherry blossom) tree. Even today, its branches are covered in pale pink flowers during cherry blossom season, cascading downwards like a waterfall.
Sakura Fes Nihonbashi 2023
Nihonbashi was a former commercial center in the Edo period (1603 – 1868) and is now known for its upscale retail, as well as large financial institutions. City center it may be, it knows how to celebrate cherry blossoms and does so in all sorts of creative and innovative ways. At the Sakura Fes Nihonbashi 2023, restaurants and shops all over the Nihonbashi area will be offering a special “Sakura Menu” featuring spring and cherry blossom-themed items. A wide range of sweets, snacks, bento lunch boxes, and products will be available. Also, don’t miss the pink-colored illuminated buildings along Edo Sakura Dori and Chuo Dori.
Photos for illustrative purposes only.
From Sakura Fes Nihonbashi 2022
Bokutei Sakura-matsuri Festival
You may have noticed that cherry blossoms often line the moats of castles and canals, their reflections amplifying the spectacle. Sumida River in the east of Tokyo is no exception. During the Edo period, Yoshimune, the eighth Tokugawa shogun (military commander), ordered the planting of sakura along both banks, forming a kilometer-long sakura boulevard running from Azumabashi Bridge to Sakurabashi Bridge. This has attracted large crowds for centuries. During the festival, local councils, businesses, and tourism associations will set up stalls and bring a festive atmosphere to the area. At night time, the blossoms are lit up with the added bonus of TOKYO SKYTREE in the background.
Sakura Festival in Chiyoda
Just north of the Imperial Palace, the Chidorigafuchi Green Way provides a peaceful path away from the bustle of the city and, in spring, it becomes a 700-meter-long cherry tree tunnel. Around 260 trees of the Somei-yoshino and Oshima varieties are illuminated at dusk. The Chidorigafuchi boating area is also open late during the festival so that visitors can view this magical sight from the water. Many neighboring shops and local organizations also hold sakura-themed events, adding to the spring festival atmosphere.
Ueno Sakura Matsuri
Ueno Park is one of Tokyo’s most popular leisure spaces, housing a variety of museums, the charming Shinobazu Pond and even a zoo. Its avenue of cherry blossom trees along the main path is famous across Japan, even earning recognition in a haiku by the renowned poet Matsuo Basho.
Koganei Cherry Blossom Festival
The Koganei Cherry Blossom Festival really has it all. Not only does it take place in the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, which makes for a visit that is both historical and fun, but the park is home to more than 1,700 cherry trees of around 50 different varieties. On stage, there will be music, dancing, hayashi (musical accompaniment for traditional stage performances), and taiko drums. You can also experience tea ceremony and flower arrangement. Sample some local and regional dishes at food stands and enjoy the special sakura light-up at night.
