---
title: "How do I know what to prune? Does anyone have an essential guide on…"
description: "How do I know what to prune? Does anyone have an essential guide on shapes or can anyone share any design principles? I bought this little plant about a month…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/hB0M8pmURCqUK7zhKpIOTw/qsj5hY9dm221OlInJ4JEpf"
community: "Bonsai Matters"
author: "ABagel"
published: "2026-08-07T03:59:55.236687Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/RqtOpUo4Q-xmElqpj3BL3aAP--7fQ7-oEO53791BltM/nupYarE-Tr2ODfG0kbUF5g.webp?size=large"
---

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# How do I know what to prune? Does anyone have an essential guide on…

_Posted by ABagel on 2026-08-07_

How do I know what to prune? Does anyone have an essential guide on shapes or can anyone share any design principles? I bought this little plant about a month and half ago and have managed to keep it alive.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/RqtOpUo4Q-xmElqpj3BL3aAP--7fQ7-oEO53791BltM/nupYarE-Tr2ODfG0kbUF5g.webp?size=large)

## 2 comments

### iBenchbuses commented on 2026-08-07

With juniper, shaping with wire is the go to. It doesn’t really like being cut too much.

#### Stigandi replied on 2026-10-03

What he said I would wire it on the trunk to give it some motion. After you do this, you need to leave it out of the direct sunlight because it cracks the bark and you could lose moisture. I lovely mine for seven days.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/J731__Gyitf_O_ZamOKRQe0T97Cni_XzH3Vy6BtD9WM/NINRau2iRZCNVs28AI-oow.webp?size=large)

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