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Doesn't hurt to put it up early... better to put it up at the height you want before the plant exceeds that intended height. So, if you need to conserve as much vertical space as possible, make sure you set the first scrog at a height that still allows you to do basic things -- like irrigate. Then, as the plant approaches, slow tuck and train as necessary to reach your end goal for canopy. It's wise to work backward from how many vertical colas you want to fill the space by the end of flower. This way you avoid over-crowding as well as waste time growing unnecessary plant mass that will only be pruned off etc... You don't need to exceed 3-4 colas per sq ft.. that will not improve yield. it'll just cause smaller, more-distrubted bud mass. The net doesn't block large portions of light, so no worries if you set it up slightly early... much more difficult to drop it down on a plant that has already exceeded the height you want to set the first net. Risk physical damage stripping off a leaf or a branch that is now slightly rigid and might snap as they age naturally. scrogs are awesome.. refine your path and reduce wasted growth/resources. This shortens vege time and saves you effort/hassle.

Train the branches away from each other, first. If that is not sufficent and you have a lot of leaves overlapping and causing constant condensation, selectively remove as few leaves as possible. Avoid creating empty gaps in canopy, as light capture is the whole goal, lol. increasing how much light completely misses the plant is not a positive. In future, have a better plan to avoid an over-crowded canopy. When done right, you shouldn't have to make tough decisions about defoliation. Avoid it. Waste less growth, time and resources, too. 10 colas bunched up isn't going to end well... Plant on left looks fine as is. The one on right looks a bit over-crowded. Sometimes need to let it grow out horizontally enough before you top. Keep spreading it out as best you can. You only need about 2.5-3 colas per sq ft to maximize yield (relative to end-size of canopy)... going beyond that mostly just causes same mass but more/smaller buds. Generally means more time trimming too. If you stick to that, you don' tneed to defoliate at all.