My butchered Pine

[Marc]

HI all, ok, no laughing just constructive criticism please. I posted a problem with this pine a few months ago and the overwhelming consensus what stuff the problem fix the tree.

So this seemed to be what people where saying.... cut off the crappy leader and train up the branch with most braches off it. a little wiring here and there and it's starting to take some shape.

more criticism wanted, thanks.

[Marc]

ummm now with pictures...

[Jow]

Ok, I`ll jump in.

You are going about it wrong, the new leader that is. The leader you have wired up starts from BELOW the branches which will cause you a whole lot of head aches down the track.

What i would do is....

(Keep in mind that what i would do isn't the right thing to do, its just one opinion and you should think through what you are after and go from there...)

If you look at the lower half of the trunk it has some nice movement to it. your top half is straight. this sets up a conflict between the movement in the bottom and the bolt uprightness of the top. in photo p5210001.jpg we can see 3 branches coming from the one spot. I would cut out the middle one and wire up the right branch. the left branch would be wired down to form the first branch. When wiring up the right branch and down the left i would mimic the movement in the bottom of the trunk to create a harmonious trunk line. you will need heavy wire to do this job properly.

If you are totally stuck might i suggest you join one of the many clubs in Melbourne. Most run regular workshop nights where there are friendly and knowledgeable people on hand to help further....

[Marc]

Thanks Jow, these branches are quite flexible. You know, I had started to wire up that right branch, but felt there were not enough branchlets (such a word?) growing out of it to create nice branches in time off a new trunk. I think you convinced me to re-do that idea.

A question, why not keep that middle branch and wire it up as an opposing branch?

[Jow]

the current wired up leader could become a branch if wired down.. i think the branch i was thinking of cutting off was actually the stub left from the old learer now i look more closely at the pics.....

[FlyBri]

Gday Marc & Jow!

Disclaimer: The sum total of my ignorance of Pines could fill an encyclopædia, so please take this advice with a handful of salt.

The most obvious thing that grabs me is the fact that you still have 3 branches in virtually the same spot, and it looks like there might already be some inverse taper issues at that junction. My immediate impressions given your styling is to remove the RH branch, which will give you the basics of a fairly stock-standard Informal Upright.

Marc_Pine.jpg

I've looked again, and I believe that there is a more interesting option: cut off the LH branch and the new leader, and use one of the many buds on the RH branch to continue a new trunkline altogether. Tilting the planting by 10°-20° to the left would rid you of the perpendicular trunk angle you have currently. Also, it looks as though that RH branch should be flexible enough to introduce a lot of movement.

Marc_Pine_v2.jpg

Anyway, I like the lower movement of the trunk, and look forward to seeing what you end up deciding.

Thanks.

Fly.

[anttal63]

hey marc you should have come over if it were mine this is what i might do. that grey thing on the left could be developed for jin and shari later. sorry about the quick and nasty virt.

[kcpoole]

Hi Marc

Somethihng like Ants quickie virt is good but I would use the right branch as the new leader and the left branch as the first Branch
both would be shortened back to see if you get some back budding on them both. as they are immature then they should.

Ken

[Marc]

Ant, Ken, I really like those ideas, thanks.

I'm gonna give 'em a go.

[kcpoole]

Ant, Ken, I really like those ideas, thanks.

I'm gonna give 'em a go.

Keep us posted

I just planted one back in the ground to put on some growth over the next few years in the hope it might get good one day. After it establishes I will put some wire on it like Jow suggests

Ken