Overhaul of a 59 year old Mugo Pine.

[nealweb]

Nice vid, sounds exiting, look forward to the next instalment ...

[kcpoole]

Nice tree, this will be good to watch

Ken

[Grant Bowie]

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[Grant Bowie]

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[Leigh Taafe]

Here is Part 2 - you will have to wait a week for more videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=835Zs8qE3hU

[nealweb]

Awesome!! I like it

[Jamie]

i like where this is heading grant, i will get some virts done for ya i think semi cascade is definately the way to head!

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not sure bout the deadwood on it but its just a virt.

[dayne]

looking good guys

[Grant Bowie]

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OK,

Thats as far as we got last night but you should have a good sense of the tree now.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Hi all,
Just to catch up where we are up to now. All the branches have been cut back above the lowest right hand branch. This branch has a number of long side branches coming from it; so there is still plenty to work with.
The movement of the lower trunk is strongly to the right and, by having the apex further to the right than it was, this will accentuate and compliment the lower movement, but not make it feel unbalanced. The jin will be refined and shortened over the next week or so.
The jinned apex will then need to be moved/bent to the right as well. One of the photos from the rear shows a dead patch that you can’t see from the front. To bend the jinned apex I will need to Dremel out some of the dead wood to leave more flexible wood. I will take advantage of this back channel and cut out a slight depression up and around the trunk for a bit of light and shade. I will do this soon so that the wood doesn’t become hard too soon.
I agree Option 1 is not really an option(more of an afterthought) and option 2 or 3 will proceed. The slope of the lower trunk can be varied by potting angle and can be varied up or down as much or as little as I like.
I should now needle pluck the older needles at this point, then the tree will be fully wired after the Jin has been carved and placed in position.
It will not be repotted this year and spring pinching will involve removal of about 2/3rds of the strong candle growth and then balance the rest over a 3 or 4 week period.
Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Also, here is a link to the tree in 360 in its unfinished state. Lots to do yet.

Grant

https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/360/Pinus_mugo_gb

[Grant Bowie]

Before I get back onto it tomorrow; anyone like option 1?

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That would involve leaving the jin where it is; in the upright position, and using two or three branches to fill in around and behind the jin. The lowest right hand branches would be pulled in and slightly tightened and the apex rounded out below the dead apex/jin.

Grant

[Bretts]

I vote short Jin and semi cascade!

[kvan64]

I vote short Jin and semi cascade!

Me too.

[Pup]

The Jin, not in the upright postion. Bend it forward, and the bring the foliage around it leaving some above, like the phoenix rising.

Just my opinion for what it is worth.