If your bonsai tree has wires on it, they will need to be carefully watched during the growing season. When they become tight they need to be removed before they begin cutting in to the bark. Use a wire cutter and cut them away rather than trying to unwind them.

Clip to shape at any time, however, large branches should be cut during the dormant season when sap is down to prevent bleeding. If you must cut a larger branch during the growing season, cut paste should be applied to the cut. Using the propper bonsai tool for the job will not only promote faster healing but also prevent ugly scars where they are not wanted. To shape foliage pads, hold the branch between your fingers with one hand and pinch off unwanted tips with the other. On deciduous trees, pinch off new shoots leaving only the first two leaves, this will cause new shoots to grow between the leaves and the process can be repeated to increase a branches density.