How do I grow a plant from the avocado pit?
This article can help you with that: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/children/sprouting-avocado-pits-how-to-root-an-avocado-seed.htm
Shabby looking and twisted from the wind. No care for several years. Want to cut it back and shape it how I want it and keep it smaller.
You'll probably want to wait until spring for this. Nonetheless, the following resource will help you:
http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/AgNatRes/Pubs/Pruning_Avocado_trees.pdf
We planted a seed from the avocado and would like to know how to pinch it back from 12 inches to 6-8 inches.
We would not recommend pruning an avocado that much, especially when it is that small. Right now, you can take maybe 2-3 inches off, but any more than that will likely kill it. You don't want to prune more than 1/3 of a plant in a year.
To prune it, just use a sharp pair of scissors to snip off the part of the plant you wish to remove.
My avocado tree froze this past winter. I trimmed down the tree to about 3 feet. Now I have all this new growth coming from the bottom. How do I trim this bush-like tree so that it grows into a tree again? Do I trim back the new growth from the bottom and leave just a few trunks? Can I plant the shoots that I cut off?
Yes, choose a few of the strongest shoots and cut away the rest. These will grow into the new trunks.
You can try to root the cuttings, but they are very difficult to root, even under the best circumstances.
How do you care for an avocado tree?
This article will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/fruits/avocado/avocado-tree-growing.htm
I recently planted a 3-4 year old avocado tree, which is now about 8 feet tall. Since planting, the leaf tips have been going brown and some leaves are very brittle, despite watering once or twice a day. Am I over watering? When I feel the earth around the tree, it can be quite dry.
It does sound like a watering issue. This article may help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/how-to-water-a-plant.htm
In addition, you may want to have your soil tested to see if it is lacking any nutrients and treat as necessary.
How long does it take to get an avocado plant from the seed? When is it time to put the avocado seedling into soil?
This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/children/sprouting-avocado-pits-how-to-root-an-avocado-seed.htm