Let it grow for a couple of years, and then if you still think it needs trimming up they do it.

From what you said, I assume that it has been planted in the ground for a year or two. Depending on many variables, it takes time for the plant to be come established. Once established, it will grow to its mature form, that is when you should trim it to get it looking the way you want.

agree.. whats your hurry ....

a year to get over stress of shipping from grower to seller to your house..

a year to get over you changing it from espalier ...

and a year for good luck..

so about 3 or 4 years after planting.. it MIGHT be ready for a light pruning.. other than removing damaged material ...

patience...

ken

ps: you dont make thing fuller.. by cutting pieces off.. its a common question...

Ken, one of the expected results of good pruning is that dormant buds along the back of a spindly stem will begin to grow. It’s a practice adhered to by millions of professional growers, nursery people, horticulturists, and home gardeners all over the world and has been since the beginning of active horticulture. Fruit tree whips are pruned back to a couple of buds per stem; rosarians prune actively, often annually; spindly camellias can be vastly improved by careful pruning……ANY non coniferous tree, shrub, or ground cover can and should be pruned in a way that will re-direct the new growth in order to improve appearance and/or stability of the growing plant.

I can’t begin to count the number of trees I’ve seen that have become dangerous or weak simply due to the lack of proper pruning when they were young. Any nursery claiming to sell high quality woody stock has devoted a small amount of effort into directional pruning…the younger the better.

James’ camellia can be easily and painlessly be pruned in order to achieve the results that he is looking for.