Overgrown pre bonsai

[Goathead]

It’s late September now and I’ve been too busy to keep my pre bonsai collection in check. It’s my understanding it’s probably too late to prune everything back, as the new growth will not have time to harden and energy will be wasted before winter. I wish, however, to shrink these fellas quite a bit before winter storage in the garage.
Is it best to wait for all deciduous to start leaf drop and prune then? Or, Is it safer to wait until just before buds in late Winter/early Spring, therefore keeping bigger trees all Winter?
How about evergreens?
Thanks for any direction you can provide

 

[leatherback]

Around leaf-drop is a perfect time normally to prune deciduous

 

[PowerTap]

It’s late September now

Wait, did I miss a month, I thought it was late August.

 

[Goathead]

 

[leatherback]

Wait, did I miss a month, I thought it was late August.

Maybe Oklahoma is ahead of its time?

 

[Shibui]

Agree. Leaf drop is a great time to prune deciduous.
Also no problem cutting evergreen species.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

It’s late September now and I’ve been too busy to keep my pre bonsai collection in check. It’s my understanding it’s probably too late to prune everything back, as the new growth will not have time to harden and energy will be wasted before winter. I wish, however, to shrink these fellas quite a bit before winter storage in the garage.
Is it best to wait for all deciduous to start leaf drop and prune then? Or, Is it safer to wait until just before buds in late Winter/early Spring, therefore keeping bigger trees all Winter?
How about evergreens?
Thanks for any direction you can provide

where did you get your time machine?

 

[Goathead]

Oklahoma actually started “summer” savings time (akin to daylight savings) this year. On Oct 15th it will revert back to Sept 15th. It just gives us more comfortable months; I’m sure it will take hold where you live soon.

 

[rockm]

I'd just let them be and prune in late winter. You will likely get better, probably mor permanent (as some new growth could get burned back by cold this winter). No harm to the trees. My elms and some maples are in similar situations. Will remedy the bushiness come late Feb.

 

[August44]

Agree. Leaf drop is a great time to prune deciduous.
Also no problem cutting evergreen species.

"Also no problem cutting evergreen species." Is that correct even in my zone 7 where it could get down to -10 or so?

 

[Goathead]

Agree. Leaf drop is a great time to prune deciduous.
Also no problem cutting evergreen species.

Joking aside; thanks for the replies. I’ll get them under control once the cold settles in then.

I assume very large branches or trunk chops should wait until active growth starts back?

 

[Shibui]

Also no problem cutting evergreen species." Is that correct even in my zone 7 where it could get down to -10 or so?

I have no experience with crazy cold like that so I can't tell you one way or the other but I can't see why pruning would make any difference to the tree through winter unless pruning had caused some fresh growth that may not be fully cold hardy. Even then, losing a little growth does not usually kill a tree. They just get on and grow again come warmer times in spring.

I assume very large branches or trunk chops should wait until active growth starts back?

I certainly do most of my deciduous pruning through winter, including large chops, but our winters don't come close to what you guys have to suffer.
After the leaves open is another good time to make larger cuts. It's just a bit harder to see what you are doing when there's leaves getting in the way.

 

[leatherback]

I assume very large branches or trunk chops should wait until active growth starts back?

I prefer to do them after the first flush of growth in spring. (I do do them at other times too, when needs be.)

 

[Dabbler]

Oklahoma actually started “summer” savings time (akin to daylight savings) this year. On Oct 15th it will revert back to Sept 15th. It just gives us more comfortable months; I’m sure it will take hold where you live soon.

we won't set the clock back one hour this year - a whole month!