AusBonsai

I'm not sure how to tackle this. It's got inverse taper and a gaping hole at the base. Any ideas?

Unless you are very lucky you are just about always going to get a bulge at graft union, there are a few options.
You can try vertical slashes in the root stock or gently hammering to promote swelling.
As for the gap, well you could remove the other root and hope its not providing too much for the tree, or expose it more and make a feature from it.
Doesnt look like white pine foliage though.

You could build up the soil and pack some moss around the trunk to cover the window showing though the large root. I agree its looks ugly leaving it exposed like that.

I'm no expert on pines, but could you do a ground layer at the bulge?

Ground layer at the top of the exposed root/ bottom of the bulge would be my attempt

Here's the needles

Looks like white pine to me. These are often grafted onto a black pine base, so is notoriously difficult to layer - unless you're Ray lol. I know he's done some great posts on layering in the past.

Cheers,
Mo


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Hi Daluke,
While you are contemplating the root issue, you may also consider cutting back the branch ends, as the inner buds are looking very weak in some ares and they will die off and leave buds only on the branch ends. Once those old needles and buds go, it will be very difficult to bud back close to the trunk. Also, the soil looks very wet for a JWP, they like it dryer than JBP or JRP.
Go to a school or Pine expert, if you are unsure where to cut back to.
Just my opinion only.
Regards,
Black Knight

Far from a pine expert - but give it some time its still very young. If its black pine root stock then it should be more vigorous than the white pine upper and may eventually thicken faster and correct the taper on its own.