• Trained bonsai tree.bonsai image by Joel Calheiros from Fotolia.com
  
  Growing and caring for bonsai is not an easy task. It takes knowledge, discipline, dedication and patience. In addition to those "intangibles," however, the art of bonsai also requires essential tools that help the bonsai grower care for his trees. Knowing the proper tools will help you be a better bonsai gardener. Although there are variations of the basic tools and other more advanced, specialized tools, there are some standard tools every bonsai grower should have.
  
  

Shears

• Traditional bonsai shears are basically Japanese scissors designed specifically for plants. The sheers have large "butterfly handles" and two small blades. Sheers are used for clipping new growth and trimming small roots. Shears come in a variety of sizes for various tree sizes.
  
  

Concave Cutter

• The concave cutter is another traditional Japanese bonsai tool. Like the sheers, the cutter is used to cut limb and root growth; however, the concave cutter (which looks much like a traditional pliers with blades) is heavier and able to cut thicker branches and roots.
  
  

Broom

• The bonsai broom is simply a small broom (the size of a paint brush) that is used to clean up your bonsai. It can be used to brush off debris from the soil or foliage or to clear dirt from around the display area.
  
  

Rake

• The bonsai rake is a small rake with three "teeth" (there is, however, a version with only one large tooth). The rake is used to remove dirt from the root systems. The gardener takes the bonsai out of the pot and then proceeds to "rake" the dirt from the roots. This raking is done before the root system is trimmed.
  
  

Tweezers

• A good set of precision bonsai tweezers will finish off the essential tools for bonsai care. The tweezers are used to remove very small foliage, debris or other undesirable growth that the shears and broom cannot get.