How To Prune A Bonsai Tree

Growing a bonsai tree is only one step to successfully allowing it to grow to its proper miniature size. One of the most important things that you need to do for it is to know correctly how to prune it. When you do not prune it correctly it will grow out of control or it will die early.

The first thing you will need to do when pruning a bonsai tree is to make sure that you are pruning it during the right season. It is true that there are certain types of trees that can be pruned throughout the whole year - but the majority of them can only be during a certain time. The best way to know when to prune them is to contact your local nursery. The rules that apply to the full size tree will also apply to the bonsai tree.

When pruning it severely you need to give your tree time to recover from this. In order to do this you need to give it the right kind of care. When you care for it the right way and prune it when needed then it will grow into a healthy tree and will live for many years. Those who do it correctly have been able to pass the trees on from generation to generation.

During pruning you will focus mainly on the trunk of the tree. This will help add to the illusion of the mature size and age of the tree. Make sure that you leave extra branches on the weak areas of the trunk. This will help to promote growth in that area and make it stronger. Any branches that are causing problems should be removed. Problem branches are ones that cross each other or grow back sharply in the direction of the trunk.

Another thing to remember when you prune the tree is that what you do above the ground will affect what happens to the tree below the ground. If you prune the branches and leaves heavily without cutting back the root system then the next season the tree will have an unusual burst of growth to try to fix the imbalance. When it comes to bonsai trees you want the root system to be ahead of the foliage and branches. But no more than 30%.