I have a Bird's Nest Spruce I am working for about 4 years. It's about 8" tall. The trunk is only about an inch in diameter at the base. I prune it in the early Spring just before the new buds start opening . but pinch back the terminal buds when they appe
ar to have completely opened. I usually remove 1/2 or the entire new growth depending on where it is. then I do not touch the tree again until the following Spring.
I find removing hard wood any time other than early spring results in damage to branches or the tree itself. I had bad experiences with Alberta Spruce cutting them too late in the Spring.

SteveW
Long Island NY

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