Pinus densiflora. Japanese Red Pine. New challenge for NBPCA

[NBPCA]

Hi Dario,

To a certain extent we are constantly watching and adjusting the designs of all the trees over time.

In this case the branch on the right hand side would have been useful but we will adjust.

Unfortuneatley a few branches had died before we got the tree and so I am not surprised that the weak branch died also, despite our best efforts is was not meant to be. However the tree looks in very good health now so we can consider grafting, bending or restyling as necessary either to try and reinstate the original design or move on.


Grant.

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

Time for an update on this tree.

The tree is quite healthy and has been in the new soil mix for one year. The lowest branch is still a little weak and a protion of the second lowest branch is also still a little weak.

Last spring time we allowed the tree to candle grow in springtime to get the maximum amount of growth and vigour into the tree and then did total candle removal as follows.

We decandled the middle 1/3rd of the tree in 23rd November and the top 1/3rd on 1st december but did not remove any candles at all from the lower 1/3rd of the tree.

The growth that came back was quite strong and the tree looks generally quite healthy.

Over the past few days we removed all of last years old needles and it has really opened it up. The top 2/3rds of the tree are covered in the new summer growth whereas the lower 1/3rd has the needles and buds as they emerged in spring.

So if all goes well this season we should be able to to a total candle removal all over the tree maybe starting about November 1st to get more compact and even growth all over the tree. This would be dependant on the lowest branch gaining more vigour this spring however.

Anyhow this tree could be ready for an overhaul sometime in 2013.

Here are some photos before we thinned out the needles. Some of the growth is of course a little big but we were still concentrating on getting the tree healthy.

IMG_4407 - Copy.JPG

IMG_4405 - Copy.JPG

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We are doing more pics now.

Grant

[kcpoole]

Did the overhaul happen as planned?
if so, what was the outcome? If not, what is the tree like now?

Ken