Qualified Arborist and Landscaper here

So if anyone needs any advice I could be able to point you in the right area to find it, just post below.

ohhh my gosh, come to our neighborhood!

How long does it take for a pruned tree
to grow new fruit (apples)?

Just going there/here with you.

What's the best time to prune - fall/winter or early spring?
And why? Which will be less invasive or whatever, and allow
quicker regrowth (of the fruit tree, for instance)?

Looked at many online resources for proper
pruning of Japanese maples. None make sense.
Well, they do when looking at them - but then,
later they don't -- when doing it.

Think we're gonna pay to have someone do all
this - but not till fall --- or spring (depending on which is better).
I heard/observed that pruning in the early spring is better.

It depends when they flower, generally when a plant flowers in the spring it is best to prune it immediately after, if it flowers in the fall it is best to prune it in the spring, BUT in this case as it is an acer and they are prone to bleed sap it would be best to do it in the winter, unless you are pruning to make good some sort of disease, damage or dangerous growths, when it should be done as soon as possible.

I agree t is best to get in a professional, it is a risky operation if you have to go into the canopy, be warned price will reflect this, if you have you cannot do the work while standing on the ground. I would not like to think of you trying to do the work with a walmart bought chainsaw and a set of step ladders as far too many people have been injured doing just this.

Depends on the amount and size of what was pruned. Sorry I cant be more specific on that one.



Again it depends when the tree flowers and also what the purpose of the pruning is.

Small shoots and branches(upto a pencils thickness) growing inward can be removed with little effect on the harvest or the trees growth, bigger material is best when the tree is dormant, again depending when it flowers, but if you prune in late fall or winter there is the risk that the tree will suffer from frost damage on buds which can have an adverse affect on the following harvest and the trees life.

If the tree flowers from the last seasons growth then removing this growth will remove any places the tree s likely to flower from, if it flowers from new growth then that s not the issue, but if you need to remove anything do it after it has flowered as the tree will be able to seal ts cuts before the harshest frosts of the winter arrive.

Hey, that all makes sense!! Danke!!

No problem.hope it helped.

Bugs and pruning:
I have a verbena bush that was just decimated (again) by, I'll assume the same thing as last time - a little green catipillar-type thing.

Most of the leaves are little more than the thicker veins.
From the last time, I know this will just linger on as is until the leaves fall off ... maybe next spring.

Should I cut it back, or strip the leaves, or do something to get it to grow fresh leaves before winter?

And what the hell are those little buggers - is there another part of the lifecycle I should fight?

I use Sevin dust once it is done flowering every few weeks(I don't want to kill the pollinators) - but due to weather and whatnot, I didn't hit it for almost a month.

As you have found out, the caterpillar is a right pain. Depending on your area there is probably a predator or a naturally occurring microbe that would get rid of the caterpillar, you may be able to attract these to your garden, and as long as they do not do more damage would be the best solution as it is natural and self governing.

Failing that, the next best option would be to find out if there is a plant that the Moth or caterpillar particularly avoid, and plant them around the verbena.

If they dont work, then look at chemicals, but personally I try to avoid them if at all possible.

Without knowing which of the verbenas you have I cant really go into specifics, but generally prune after it has flowered if it can wait that long, but if it looks like the leaf stalk or branch is dying, prune it then and there.

Upon closer inspection this afternoon, I found a number of small brown beatle-like bugs. About the size of a fat grain of rice.
not a stink-bug or Japanese beetle ... looking for image

I agree - prefer natural predator over chemicals. I've begun to think about "importing" praying mantises.

Tempting though it may be, I wouldnt quite go that far, there is probably a local garden supplies that can tell you about any local bugs or micro predators that would help.