ok i have a couple ?'s. i was told by pinching the shots of
the tree i
can create good branch formations faster. and also was told
that to
make the leaf of the tree smaller to pinch them off and they
grow back
smaller. what is a good time to do either of these? and how
would you
do both to get good results? thanks for any help.

You pinch as needed continuously through the growing season.
Which shoots you pinch depends on what you have planned for the
tree. The general recommendation is to pinch new shoots back to
a pair of leaves, but again this is very general and how far you
pinch back depends on the tree and its design.

Leaf stripping is done ON A VERY HEALTHY TREE. As to when it is
done, that depends on where you live -- and you didn't say. If
you have a long growing season and if the leaves have hardened
off on your trees, now might be a good time. If you are just
getting into your spring, wait until the leaves harden. Pinch
off just the leaves, leaving the petiole.

You really need to get a basic bonsai book. These and other
basic steps are described in all of them.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Our life is
frittered away by detail . . . . Simplify! Simplify. -- Henry
David Thoreau - Walden

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