A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Shrubs and Trees trimming into tree form

i get really confused on how to trim things into tree form. I have a few things that i bought...and want them all to grow into a tree form. rhododenderons, camellias, & jane magnolia. the jane magnilia already bloomed this year and is under 2 feet tall. it is currently full of green leaves. the magnillias are about 1 foot tall...and look like they may not bloom. if they do, it will be in the summer i guess. they havent grown hardly at all since i planted them 3 or 4 months ago. i bought 2 rhododenderon plants...about 8 inches tall. one bloomed and one didnt. looks like they both are starting new growth now after the bloom of one. (new bright green leaves forming)
all of these are newly plantes ( 3 months or so) but i dont want to skip the step on getting them trimmed into tree form. I dont understand what "pinking off" means...or any of the other pruning lingo. I'm TOTALLY NEW at gardening. PLEASE HELP!!!! my dream is to have a lovely garden. but I'm a beginner.

It's best to let your plants get established before you do any severe pruning.

I have a few shrubs that I pruned into tree form, you have to keep a main stem that is sturdy and straight and cut away any competing branches, any suckers or any crossed or rubbing branches as well.

I pinch away any tiny little branches I see growing where I don't want them. It'll all take time and a little trial and error.

Hope this helps some, if not just ask some more.