As I understand hard wood pruning should be done during winter when less sap will flow on pines. I have been experimenting in the last few days about how much I can get away with pruning at this time of the year. I removed all the needles on the trunk. I found that if I twisted the candles of the top section it did not seep much.
The plan is by striping the top it will stop growing but without removing it yet I won't lose much sap. I will lose some out of the smaller side branches I removed but I hope that as this will be wrapped I will get away with it.
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I am using Deborah Koreshoffs sketch as a template but mine heads the other way as I liked the bend at the base better this way.
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I want some more movement in the trunk so on the with the Vet Wrap then three large wires are zip tied up the trunk. I love the Vet Wrap it has made life so easy this year with root over rock and all soughts of projects.
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Then Vet Wrap again finished off with thick wire wrapped around trunk. I hope my wiring looks to be at 45 deg
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I go by a quote that Big George said to me whatever works. This is just a steel bar that I have welded a couple of pegs on to bend the trunk and a sliding clamp to brace the tree.
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It is very important to feel the wood as you bend and listen very carefully. I think I could have gone further than this but I think that is enough.
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Few more bends!
The planned front
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Back
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I will now let the tree rest and if it shows it is still happy I will wire the branches and start learning how to prune pines
I think I have a phew weeks that I can still get good results from candle pruning?
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