Initial set up 20/40 (Tuning and Connection to radio)

Hi everyone…I have 2 newbie questions:

1) Connection from Matchbox to Radio……I’ll be 100% QRP….so I am looking to maximize the signal strength from my KX3. With that said, what is the best configuration from the matchbox to the radio? For example: will my signal improve if:
a) I add counterpoise (5% WL…25% WL…or ??) and keep the coax short?
b) I add a 1:1 Balun?
c) Keep any of the above (counterpoise/coax) up off the ground?
d) Or nothing…just coax straight to the radio

2) For tuning 20/40:

a) To tune 40-meters first per the instructions, do I start with, or without, the 20-meter stub attached? I presume (given step 7 that says to securing attache the stub…that I should start the 40-meter tuning WITHOUT the 20-m stub…correct??)

b) When, in the process do you try to get to 1:1 SWR? The instructions say to simply find the lowest SWR….. So, does this mean that, without an external tuner, the SWR will not get to 1:1 ‘all by itself’….and thus 1:1 isn’t achieved until a tuner finishes the job?

Thanks !!!
73, Jim K3JRU