AusBonsai

Sacrifice branches appear to be the best way to increase trunk thickness.
You still need to maintain the branches you want to keep so you have something to work with after the growing is done.
Select the branches you will use for the primary branches and apex (note the final apex may not be the current one. It might be one of the current side branches) Start to candle prune and pull needles on those branches. Select another branch or 2 for sacrifice branches. Let those ones grow unchecked as long as they want. You may need to prune off some side branches so they don't shade and compete with your good branches.
There is a tendency for the tree to put all the resources into the higgest growing point and sometimes lower branches weaken and die. If your good branches start to look sick prune the sacrifice branches back significantly to divert resources back to the parts you want until they grow healthy again.

Some pics of pine sacrifice branches:

Thank you @shibui and @Daluke

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Hi all,
Long time lurker, first time posting!
Has anyone commenced decandling their black pines in Melbourne yet?
I am holding off for now, might even wait till first week of Jan, as my previous experience when decandling around Xmas has been that the subsequent growth was still quite vigorous.

I'm not in Melbourne but have started cutting shoots on the older pines here. I have cut as late as Christmas but mid Dec seems pretty good for me.

Waiting too long could lead to new shoots not maturing. If you have strong regrowth there could be other factors at play. Maybe you should outline your full regime and add some pics to see if anyone can pick up any issues that may help.

Ryceman is in Melb and posted that he cut shoots on a couple of JBP yesterday - viewtopic.php?f=131&t=27332&start=30

New growers please note that decandling/ shoot cutting is not the best technique for younger, developing trees. It is used to promote shorter shoots when developing ramification and when the trees are advanced to maintain short shoots and compact growth.

Yep. Like shibui says I am decandling trees now in Melbourne. I’ve posted a few updates in my progression threads to keep them current that you can look at.
When you decandle depends on lots of stuff.
How big is the tree (and therefore the desired needle length you want in terms of scale)?
Has the fert regime etc for the months prior got the tree ready for it?
Is the tree ready for refinement or still developing, or somewhere in between?
Is the tree in a bonsai pot or nursery container and how are the roots... was it repotted recently?
Do you needle pluck in conjunction with decandling, and if so to what extent?
Some of this stuff can be answered with pics, other stuff you’ll know from working with it.
Generally, mid December works pretty well for me and my trees (which are on the smaller side mainly, nothing over 500mm).
How effective decandling is also depends on your after care, when you resume fert etc will have an impact on the result. I could go on... but you get the point.
When to decandle? The answer, as it is a lot in bonsai... depends...

Hey, thanks for the great replies,
I suspect I may not have needle plucked to the extent I should have in the past at the time of decandling.
At this stage I will probably decandle both my pines next week, see pics for context.
Regards Dan.

I did my black and red pine bonsai today and will decandle the garden pines next weekend. Mid December to Xmas like Neil said seems good up here.

I was hoping your trees were not young ones still trying to grow. Your pines are all mature enough for decandling/ shoot pruning to be the right technique.
Larger regrowth can be the result of cutting too early, too much fertilizer or too many needles left on the tree.

One visiting expert said to stick to the same technique for a few years before trying something new as it can also take a few years to have the desired effect.

This will be the third year of decandling for the semi cascade. Although the first year for the apex, it would be about the fifth for the upright.
See completed job in pic.
Some needle plucking to be done though.

Try again.

Beech92 wrote: ↑December 16th, 2020, 6:33 am Some needle plucking to be done though.

Yes ... needle count still looks a bit high from what I can see. When did you cease fertiliser?? That will also play a part. If you have decandled numerous times and still don't have the growth/result you want, I would say there is something systemic that needs to change.

I pulled the fertiliser three weeks ago, I know it should be four, that is the last variable I am looking to alter.
At least they are healthy!

Update on the outcome of the decandleling process.
The semi cascsde had exploded while the one in the smaller pot has been much less vigorous.
Both were done within a week of each other, I am putting out done to the smaller container not allowing as much nutrients to be received by the tree. Also the smaller one is more ramified so the energy is spread over a larger area.

I have a roughly 7ft black pine that i am happy with the thickness and want to finally start developing it. I was going to reduce it down to 1 foot. Is now the ideal time? Or should i wait till the end of winter

Bonus question. Should i wait to reduce the roots or do ut at the same time.