Pine Maintenance—Val

SBBK Workshop Oct 1, 2024

Bare mid-trunk is difficult to keep. Dense below is out of balance.  Would need to thin out lower to make bare spot to scale.

Thin out, cut apex, wire branches in late Nov.

  • Can air layer top or prune off and find a new apex

  • If I did not decandle in summer, I can thin out in late Oct, if summer decandled—should thin out and wore in late Nov.

  • Next June can decandle or cut back closer to the trunk.

  • If I wanted a thicker trunk, then let it grow out with a sacrifice—but most branches will get oddly thick and out of proportion.

Unknown Pine (Aug 2024)

  • Experiment and treat as single flush

  • Spring pinch (partial candle) and it should bifurcate

  • Do not strip needles off indiscriminately, but leave 4 sets at each year growth—to push back budding and new needles

  • This tree has great lower branches and could style as a shohin—pruning off the top.

  • But naturally long needles may work against the shohin style.  Wait and see if needles reduce.

Oct 4 new buds revealed

Michael Wei