Is it okay to trim my bonsai tree in the winter?

I just recieved a juniper bonsai tree for Christmas and I want to start trimming and pruning it. It's supposed to be dormant in the winter and I plan on keeping it outside on the patio. Should I wait a bit until I start prunning or can I start right away? It's about three years old and had previous care before it was bought for me.|||Have at it!...Now is the best time to do the nipping, pinching, and pruning. Junipers can be lightly pruned throughout the year with no problems. They will usually go through 2 growing stages per season and you can nip or pinch off the growing tips to keep their shape in check. This will also cause the foliage to thicken up as well. Be sure to remove the buds growing on the undersides of the branches, you'll want to keep them clear to give it a cleaner and well defined look to the branching structure. Juniper is one of my favorite specimens to work with in the art of Bonsai. Some great varieties to work with are, Juniperus "sargentii", Juniperus procumbens "Nana", Juniperus "rigida" (needle juniper). What makes the juniper so versitile is the fact that they can be shaped to grow in any of the bonsai styles.. Formal upright, informal upright, slanting, cascading, windswept, and literati. They look equally beautiful in a "group" planting as well. Junipers are quite hardy and easy to take care of which makes them a real favorite among beginning bonsai artists.. So, welcome to a fun and relaxing hobby, but watch out! It can be very addicting and you will find yourself with a collection of trees on display in no time at all. You'll know you are addicted when you find yourself galavanting through the local nursery, searching for a future bonsai specimen on your free weekends off..lol. Hope this answers your question.. And Merry Xmas!





$Billy Ray$|||Your welcome! And with diligent care, it can be very long lived. I had specimens that were over 40 yrs. of age. Good luck... Billy Ray

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|||go ahead...no harm in it.