How to Prune a Bonsai Tree and Keep Its Shape

Pruning is the part of bonsai that makes people nervous, and it is also the part that makes a bonsai a bonsai. Once you know how to prune a bonsai tree, ten minutes every few weeks is all it takes to keep that sculpted look.

Maintenance pruning vs structural pruning

Maintenance pruning is the light trimming you do through the growing season to hold the shape. Structural pruning means removing larger branches to change the design, and it is best done when the tree is resting in late winter. Beginners only need the first kind.

How to prune a bonsai tree in four steps

• Step back and look at the outline. Decide what is sticking out before you cut anything.
• Trim long shoots back to one or two pairs of leaves, cutting just above a leaf.
• Remove anything dead, crossing or growing straight down.
• Thin the top a little more than the bottom. Trees grow hardest at the top, so this keeps the whole tree balanced.

Do not overdo it

Never remove more than about a third of the foliage in one session. The leaves feed the tree, and a bonsai that is cut too hard will sulk for months. When in doubt, cut less and come back in two weeks.

Already shaped for you

Every tree we ship has been styled by our team, so you start with a good shape and simply maintain it. Take a look at our real bonsai trees, or our premium bonsai trees if you want something with extra character.