I've heard that you should trim all the leaves off in spring,
to
encourage smaller leaf regrowth. Is that correct? Is it too
late to do
that now (live in Austin, TX)?


Spring is too early. Do it in spring and the leaves that grow
back are likely to be *larger* than the ones you cut off.

Foliage should have completely hardened off before leaf trimming.
When you trim, leave at least 1/2 of the petiole (leaf stem) on
the tree.

There is absolutely no point in doing much leaf trimming until
your tree is pretty far along in its life as a bonsai. Big
leaves don't bother a tree under development, and since you don't
NEED smaller leaves then there's no point in stressing the tree.

And leaf trimming DOES stress the tree! Don't do it unless your
tree is VERY healthy.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

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