Most of our decidious bonsai will now have a good covering of leaves and be in need of a tidy up to ensure we are able to maintain decent airflow and light into the core of the tree.  We will want to remove any unwanted juvenile growth that sprouted from junctions or crotches and we will look to prune shoots back to the desired shape. 

This pruning is not intended to encourage another flush, though it does happen.  This is the time when I am looking to remove surface weeds and inspect for bugs.  I also use this time to wire in ‘minor’ movement on branches for my younger nursery stock.  I often carry a notebook and write down any thoughts I may have for the future of the bonsai. 

It is important to remember that your bonsai needs a good amount of leaves to enable it to produce strong vascular growth in the autumn.  This will be the period when the tree expands trunk and branch girth.  If you remove too much of the growth now, you can severely impair this aspect and put the tree back a year…or two!