As the tree is leafing out is best. Branches thicken fastest after Father's Day (actually after the summer solstice, but Father's Day is close & easy to remember), so keep an extra close eye on the wire after that time so the wire doesn't scar. Most of your foliage growth and branch extension occurs as days lengthen. As the dark period increases in duration, the plant begins to turn more to the task of storing photosynthate in cells laid down in roots and cambial tissues, which accelerates thickening.

Al

THANK YOU TAPLA,,That will be easy to remember .i just want to strighten up the apex..thanks john

Whenever you wire and bend branches, you'll be causing cracks in the bark that expose the cambium to drying air. Some plants, like pines, generally tolerate that with little problem. Other plants don't tolerate it well at all. If you're unfamiliar with your tree's response to wiring, it's best to wire when there is lots of sap flowing in the tree and the tree is growing well. You need to allow time for the cracks to heal before winter or you could lose branches.

Because your trees will make wood at a more rapid rate after the solstice, branches set faster during that period of the growth cycle, but as noted, you also need to keep a sharp eye out because they also thicken faster.

I often wire a branch in the spring, and later, if the branch isn't yet set and shows the wire is beginning to 'bite', I'll unwind the wire and rewire the branch with the same wire, but wrap it in the opposite direction. Another useful hint is when wire starts to 'bite', only remove the wire in the areas where it is biting into the bark, instead of unwiring the entire branch.

Al

AL,,Thanksfor the information...the apex on this tree is laying down more than i want it to..i willget it up where i want it to be thanks again john