sean117Ply wrote:Well I have cut back my deciduous trees right back. But I have just read not to do this in winter, its better in spring, my trees wont die will they???
I sincerely doubt it, But you may suffer some die back of the branches.
It is always better to know those about those things before you do them..
The trees I cut back hard include: english elm, chinese elm, tridant maple, and a few japanese maples.
I am curious how much of a dormancy your [IE] maples get in Sydney. [I've been waiting to ask that...lol]
My goal is to thicken the branches and make them twigy.
Ok, Twiggy = Ramification. But I have a question: Do you mean you want the
actual branches to be 'thicker'? {Or...Do you mean you want thicker foliage?}.
If you mean the actual branches, You have two different goals there which require different techniques. [BTW pruning works wrt ramification but is counterproductive to branch thickening: Unchecked growth is best for that]
I am not sure how much of an understanding you have of the differences so please clarify this if you would

, It sounds as though you have a few trees.
Here are a few links for you to peruse about pruning:https://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basics_Pruning1.html
https://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basics_Pruning2.html
https://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATtiming.htm
Those are all from this site: https://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics.html
There is much more to be learned there also.
[Though not directly related to your question] Do read through the stickies at the top of the forum and check out [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3343]this thread[/url] for some inspiring bonsai.
ynot