Tight wires can easily girdle and kill a branch. Move ties every three to four months to make sure they are not restricting growth on the branch. Twine tied loosely, or twist ties, like those used to tie garbage bags, work well. Once the plant starts to grow, shape it every month or two. Remove branches or twigs growing out of place, and retie stray branches.
Spring is a good time to do major pruning.
Retie all the branches in late fall right before the tree goes dormant. The sap is still flowing, and the wood is limber enough to move and shape. He says it's difficult to explain in writing all the tricks and procedures, but there are many books with photographs that can give you a better picture of the various stages of the process. For more information, contact your local USU County Extension office. We offer our program to persons regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability.