Trimming, Pruning and Training Your Bonsai

Because, Bonsai trees are not permitted to have much root growth, the main objective of trimming and pruning is to balance the above ground growth with the root growth. This is, of course, in addition to giving the tree its desired shape which is the main goal of training as well.

• Trimming - When trimming your Bonsai, be sure your scissors or Bonsai shears are sharp. The purpose of trimming is solely to remove foliage and light branches. Some Bonsais should only be trimmed with your thumb and index finger, as this will remove new growth without causing browning or a "sheared" appearance. A good example of this type of tree is the Juniper.
• Pruning - Removing heavier branches is pruning and this should be done with a concave cutter. There is no substitute for this, as the concave cutter lets you remove small, medium and large branches without leaving any marks.
• Training - When training your Bonsai you can use the modern method, wiring, or you may choose the more traditional method of long term pruning and hemp rope. Some people even combine the methods. Copper wire that has been heated in low-temperature fire and then cooled is generally considered to be the best option for wiring. Once the wire has cooled, wrap it around a branch in the way you want the branch to be bent. A branch should not be bent more than once to avoid harming the “skin” layer under the bark. Try not to wrap the wire too tight, but make sure it is tight enough to hold the branch in place. All wires should be removed 6 and 12 months after they have been placed or before the wires bite the limbs. Cut the wire with bonsai wire cutters only and snip the wire at each turn. The cut pieces should be able to fall freely to the ground if done properly. If you unwind the wire or use pliers instead of wire cutters you will cause the branches harm.