Since I am happy with the trunk and nebari, I was planning to move it to a training pot this spring. My questions:
1. I chopped several branches this winter. Is it ok to move this season or should I wait another year?
You can absolutely move it this spring. But see the point below.
2. There are large branches that I don’t want anymore can I cut them all back this year or wait?
IF you are moving the tree too, I would not remove the big branches completely. Japanese maples are prone to dying back and when you also reduce the roots functioning this may be enhanced. You could cut back to stumps, leaving maybe 3, 4 nodes worth of branch there (Do you know about nodes?)
3. If I prune most of the branches will it sprout new ones that I can train and develop?
Absolutely. A healthy japanese maple can be expected to pop buds all over after a big prune. Buds only show up at the nodes, and can be anywhere around the trunk, at that level.
4. If I remove the sacrificial branches and no longer have them will the scars still close
They will close, but use a good cutpaste (NOT the regular stuff used in horticulture). Also, it is important to prune the back back to slightly below the trunk surface, and to prune when the tree is active. Cutting deep when dormant is asking for die-back
5. …..any other tips?
Enjoy the process. Learn. Take it slow and do not do everything at once.
I have all this info also in video format on my youtube channel
www.youtube.com/growingbonsai