Where to go from here? Japanese black pine

[sheepdawg]

I went out and got myself this pine (Japanese black, according to the dude) for $15.

I'm happy with the trunk diameter, I don't want a large pine (ficus on the other hand...). But I'm unsure on how to proceed.

This tree isn't without a few issues too, it has some very slight inverse tapering, but I think this can be fixed by cutting those lower knobs flush with the trunk. The first branch section is also thickening up because there are too many branches at this section, so I think removing them as some point will also be best.

So what I want to do is cut at the red line. Lightly guy-wire the yellow branch down a bit. Remove one of the smaller branches at the first junction. Also cut those knobs down that are towards the base. Can I do this now? Or should I wait until winter comes in more?

Pics: http://imgur.com/a/8uXwS

Thanks

[Grant Bowie]

To be completely honest it looks like very poor stock. It may/should bud back OK in spring/summer but there hardly seems to be an intact bud on the tree, possibly due to cutting back too hard at the wrong time of year.

Your future tree is probably in the bottom shrubbery so best not to cut off anything down there until you see what is the best and healthiest. You may have to cut off the top completely to encourage the lower branches to bud back.

Anyhow your climate is with you as you have a long growing season ahead of you once winter is past.

Grant

[sheepdawg]

To be completely honest it looks like very poor stock. It may/should bud back OK in spring/summer but there hardly seems to be an intact bud on the tree, possibly due to cutting back too hard at the wrong time of year.

Your future tree is probably in the bottom shrubbery so best not to cut off anything down there until you see what is the best and healthiest. You may have to cut off the top completely to encourage the lower branches to bud back.

Anyhow your climate is with you as you have a long growing season ahead of you once winter is past.

Grant

Oh yeah, it is in very poor condition. It was in full shade but for $15, I think it was worth the risk and I'm optimistic. So, do you think I should chop the top off now? How big of stump do you think I should leave?

[shibui]

That pine has probably been allowed to grow freely for a couple of years and has just been cut back. Autumn is a good time to cut back overgrown black pines as long as they are healthy at the time and as long as you leave plenty of healthy needles. You should get lots of strong buds from the base of the needles and possibly even some from bare parts of the trunk.
As Grant pointed out the main trunk is probably too straight and lacks taper. It won't make much of a bonsai but you should be able to develop something from some of those lower branches. I would cut that main trunk off just above the bunch of lower branches. At this stage it does not matter whether you leave a stump. It will be cut back again after the new shoots have grown a bit and you can choose a new trunk and a couple of branches to style your tree.

Cut the main trunk short now. Feed this tree all through winter. Allow new buds to grow through spring and summer while you conceive a plan and style. feed it well through spring and summer. Later in summer remove unwanted branches and cut back the ones you plan to use to make your bonsai. The following spring it might be time to start decandling in spring and move to black pine maintenance program.
I think it will be too soon to start decandling this tree this coming spring.