Tips and Techniques to Perform Structural Pruning of your Bonsai Tree

The goal of structural pruning is to give the desired shape to your bonsai.

Structural shaping is mostly done in winter on outdoor bonsai trees, when they are resting, and the sap is not abundant. On indoor bonsai trees, structural shaping is better done in spring or in summer, as it would weaken the tree too much if done in winter.

Structural shaping is not easy and requires a lot of talent and imagination. You have to identify what is possible to be done with your bonsai tree, and what is the best approach to enhance the tree.

A general approach to structural pruning is to identify the main branches and existing movement, and try to work from this base. Cut any branches that is growing out of this structure. You can take a look at the page on bonsai trees shapes to help you.

Usually, a bonsai tree has different parts easily identified and separate from each other. You will want to recreate this characteristic by removing any branch that is growing up towards the upper one, or down toward the lower one. This will create some void in between each level of branches, and will clear the general structure of the tree.

Similarly, branches are usually growing from the center of the tree to the outside. You should remove any branches that is growing back toward the trunk, as they will most likely unbalance the general structure of your tree.

You might also find some abnormally thick branches at the top of the structure of your tree. Usually, the tree is thinner at the top, and these branches might look awkward. Remove them.