1, Sterilize, wipe and thoroughly clean your elm pruning shears with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide before you begin pruning.

2. Finish taking out all dead, diseased and damaged branches when early spring arrives. Sterilize each cut to prevent the entire tree from spreading disease between pruning, elms must complete this process before the growing season.

3. After you have already removed the dead and diseased elm branches. Determine the desired shape of the elm bonsai. Then select the shape that complements and enhances the natural shape of the bonsai for the best pruning results.

4. The root system can be scrutinized after removing excess soil from the elm root mass. Use a sterile root hook to comb through about one-third of the root mass. Cut away the damage, hold and kill the root tip sharp and perform sterile pruning. Prune back no more than one-third of the root system more so that this system is balanced with the trunk, branches and leaves of the bonsai.

5, elm root pruning and quickly to prevent the roots from drying out. Clean the container of the bonsai with warm water and soap and let it dry. Improve water retention by mixing equal parts of nutrient-rich soil, organic matter such as pine bark and peat moss to create a loamy environment.

Expanded:

Elm pruning is usually done in early spring and fall, when the plant has not yet begun to grow, and it is mainly pruned to remove the dead and old branches and to promote the new branches' growth and development. In the fall, it is due to the growth of the overall shape change, affecting its beauty, so to re-pruning and shaping.

Elm bonsai in the completion of pruning, need to be placed in a semi-shade environment, maintain good ventilation, so that the wound can dry quickly. At the same time in order to promote the development, often need to supplement a little nutrients, give it appropriate fertilizer to accelerate the recovery of growth. If in the high incidence of disease, but also pay attention to spray control.