How early can I start here in the Atlanta Area? I have successfully air layered other trees, but I did them in May, and they were good to remove by August-September.

Our 'official' last frost date is March 30th by some accounts, April 15th by others, but we usually have mostly good weather from the beginning of March in most years. Forsythia blooms late Feb, Cherries are in bloom in March here.

Thanks in Advance
Bruce

Norm

Late Spring is when I have taken air layerings, after the spring flush is over, but before the summer heat really kicks in. The plants I have taken layers from are Junipers, Crepe Myrtle and Japanese Cherry - all were successful. In one of my Bonsai books the author (Bonsai Masterclass -Peter Chan?) states he layered a Japanese Maple in successive rounds over one season and got 9 Bonsai from one nursery tree in that year. This tree of mine could yield about 5 (2 from each main branch, plus the weathered trunk part) I don't want to stress the tree overly, so I would layer the tops of the main branches first, then the lower down sections after the first round of layering was complete. I think that trying to run 4 air layerings at once on only 2 branches might be a little risky.

Yes, we have a good long growing season here: last frost abt. Mar 30, first frost abt. Oct 31. I was therefore wondering if I could start eariler than I did last time (which was about May 20)

I agree, although I have never tried it, I don't think I would try two from the same branch simultaneously. After you take the first round you can reevaluate your situation and decide if you have time for another round.
I know it sounds appealing to air layer branches but in all honesty there have been times that I really wanted to get the main tree underway and I forgo the layering all together. Bonsai is slow enough as it is, waiting another year to get my styling started is sometimes more than I can bear.

Norm