With spring now in full swing in the southern hemisphere and the appearance of lush new growth on our trees in the garden, it’s truly a magnificent time.

Hold up! I see you already have a pair of scissors in your hands. Can you hear me out, give me just a moment of your time…

One of the most common pitfalls I have noticed in the pursuit of maintaining and evolving a bonsai collection is the complete lack of a plan for the said trees. Okay yes, that may sound boring, rigid, and not very ‘arty.’ You’re absolutely right! Bonsai encompasses so many different aspects and failure to acknowledge and align these to a common goal will see you fight an uphill battle.

‘Ok I’m listening; so I must have a plan in place. What does a plan for my bonsai look like?‘

Glad you asked! The scissors in your hand that you were about to use to trim that branch back into shape, well in fact that branch should be allowed to elongate for further thickening this season, so best to put those scissors away.

Your plan may look as simple as this or far more complicated, but by having a direction you are almost guaranteed to advance your bonsai. Knowing what your plan should consist of comes with experience and knowledge gained. Resources online and in person are almost unlimited these days. Have a scout out for your local bonsai professional and club for advice.

Happy planning!