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When a branch is pruned it will inevitably leave a scan With full- sized trees the wound will normally heal rapidly and any resulting disfiguration will be of little or no consequence.

However, since bonsai grow more slowly the healing process is slower as well, so it needs all the help it can get. Also great care must be taken to minimize the possibility of unsightly swellings around the wound, and to encourage the scar to blend in with the character of the trunk.

The first technique shows you how to execute simple pruning, where a small to medium sized branch is removed. The second shows how to use a larger wound to your advantage, by hollowing it out and turning it into an interesting feature.

Here are a few general points to bear in mind:

• Always use very sharp tools, which should ideally be sterilized by immersing them in methylated spirit for a few minutes. This is especially important when pruning away diseased wood.

• The cambium layer (between the bark and the heartwood) must be sealed against frost, water and drying wind. If left exposed it may die back, increasing the size of the wound and delaying the healing process.

• Never use horticultural bitumen-based sealants. These will dry hard and will be impossible to remove from the surrounding bark without causing disfiguration.

• Feed the tree well after drastic pruning to speed up the healing process. The more vigorous the tree, the quicker it will heal.