To achieve the miniaturized and varied shapes pruning is an absolute must. Both of limbs, leaves, shoots and roots.
Pruning of limbs is some of the most visible above ground modification that will be done.
The removal of limbs will depend on what is envisaged will be accomplished and where you are starting from.
If you are buying a ready made bonsai then pruning will typically be of the simple maintenance variety.
If you have purchased a small tree and are radically altering its shape it is a different matter and limb removal will be more excessive.
If the bonsai is started from seed then regular smaller type adjustments will be made over a number of years to reach the desired outcome.
