How to prune chinese juniper 'itoigawa'

Spring through summer for pinching; structural pruning in spring before strong growth begins. Pinch or snip extending shoot tips back by one-third to one-half, always leaving green foliage on every shoot retained. Use fingers or scissors — do not shear flat, as browning cut-foliage looks unnatural. Remove any dead or browning inner foliage periodically.

Pinching every 4–6 weeks during the growing season; structural pruning once annually in spring. Chinese Juniper 'Itoigawa' is one of the premier bonsai subjects, prized for fine foliage and compact growth. Regular pinching through the growing season maintains dense, cloud-like pads. Never cut back to bare wood — junipers do not back-bud on leafless branches. Remove dead interior foliage in autumn to reduce disease risk.

Pinch or snip extending shoot tips back by one-third to one-half, always leaving green foliage on every shoot retained. Use fingers or scissors — do not shear flat, as browning cut-foliage looks unnatural. Remove any dead or browning inner foliage periodically.