I recently found a great Blue Spruce at Home Depot--fantastic taper, great branch distribution, and solid nebari. I cleaned out some of the weak and dead branches.
I am wondering what the next steps should be. Should I (1) select the branches to avoid the whorls swelling (messing up the nice taper) and repot next spring. Or (2) should I wait to select branches, repot next spring and then wait until the fall to do any styling (or another season to do any styling?--based on how it recovers from the repot)
Thanks for the replies! The trunk diameter is pretty much where I want it. So, based on what you are saying, my plan is to prune and set the primary structure this fall once, and put it in a pot next spring. I have done a little post-flush pruning back to some new buds to promote some back budding and ramification, but will do some larger work once it is cooler.
Echo what Evan said. Just remember if you put it into a smaller pot you're committing to slowing the growth further.
With spruce I usually wait until the buds start to move in Spring before repotting. Nursery stock is often especially vigorous though.
Technically style / prune now, and repot in spring. With a Home depot stock though i have done plenty at the same time and been successful.