During design, is that your initial pruning should be the one which sets the shape of the tree for life. Some people tend to be as gentle as possible on new trees and then under prune. This is not the best procedure to follow. The saying says you have to be cruel to be kind and that applies in design pruning as well.

Treat your tree gently. Remove excess branches and trunk. Secondly the rootball. This is not only to balance the new look but also to fit in the new container.

We don't just design trees for a particular classification, but we strive to develop our ability to see the finished tree, while looking at the untrained tree. Height reduction is probably the most common heavy pruning you will have to do on most nursery grown trees.

Collected trees will be dealt with in advance design.

When you shorten a tree you have to select a new apex, or a branch to train as a leader to form the new apex. The cut should be in such a way which would not be clearly visible from the front. Cuts can be made into a focal point or a feature on your new tree. Try to avoid the chop-off look. Do not cut a trunk in the direction of a new bud; the chances of a new bud surviving are 1 out of 10. Rather let the bud grow into a branch and at a later stage, reduce the tree. You will have a live apex or a jinned apex. Jinned means deadwood.

Remember designing bonsai does not happen overnight - it is a long process in caring for that specific tree. Branches can also be cut back to a new growing point, suggesting taper.