51cg

So I brought a bonsai two years ago from seed. I don’t know what species it is, except that it is some kind of pine. It was one of those ones you find in W&Smith. Despite this all, I decided to give it a go and it’s been going two years!

But I’m at a stage now where I don’t really know where to go next. I want to start pruning the main trunk because it’s getting wild but I don’t want to kill it.

My questions are:

1. Can I prune the main trunk, without killing it and how might I best do it?

2. Can anyone actually identify my tree? I know it’s a pine but what kind of pine I have no idea! I have looked at loads of forums and videos but no real luck.

Thank you so much!

Not sure who is WS Smith to be honest.

Why do you say it is a pine? Does not look like a pine. Looks more like a larch, or cedar to me?

Figure out what species it is, than plan next steps.

In general, you can trim evergreens, but best not to remove more than 50% of the foliage at any time. Bare branches without foliage at the end, typically die.

Larch is not evergreen

1: you can cut it back, but it needs to be done on the right time of the year which is in late winter to early spring.