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JBP - To chop or not? 6 years 1 month ago #37324

  • Clicio
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So I have this leggy black pine, and have this feeling that the only way to keep it is chopping it very low to make a possible literate in the future.
Another possibility is leaving the future dead trunk as a jin (almost a shari, in this case).
What do you guys think?
It is already dead (if I throw it away), so better try, no?

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JBP - To chop or not? 6 years 1 month ago #37326

  • m5eaygeoff
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Well, it is not dead. I would re do the wiring, not good. The branch on the left is odd, if the style chosen was literati the I might remove it. The higher branches are in a cartwheel and some need to be removed. I don't think I would remove where you suggest, not yet anyway, There is also the possibility of semi or cascade. But it is your tree and the decision is yours

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JBP - To chop or not? 6 years 1 month ago #37327

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Well, it is not dead. I would re do the wiring, not good.

Yes, you're right. I got it wired as a gift, last year. The wire on the trunk is doing nothing to the non-movement of it.
Some cross-wiring also.
After some snapped branches, one is cautious. The wiring is old, will be cut anyway.

The branch on the left is odd, if the style chosen was literati the I might remove it.

No, I don't think you got it right; I want to get rid of the whole trunk! And keep the odd branch (wiring it differently).

The higher branches are in a cartwheel..

That's one of the reasons to chop the trunk. The other being the reverse taper.

There is also the possibility of semi or cascade.

Yes, it could be, perhaps better than a literatti, but... Still leggy.
Thanks for your comments!

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Last edit: Post by Clicio.

JBP - To chop or not? 6 years 1 month ago #37328

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In fact, I've been showing this tree around because I don't like to throw trees in the trash bin.
Specially Black Pines, not so easy to find around here.
But IF there is any hope, I can't see it right now...

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JBP - To chop or not? 6 years 1 month ago #37338

  • Orlando
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Hi,
i would remove the foliage in the top, so the nice new buds have more chance to grow. build a shohin from it. +7 years:)

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Last edit: Post by Orlando.

JBP - To chop or not? 6 years 1 month ago #37339

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Orlando;

Yes, this is a possibility.
But in this case, couldn't I cut the trunk much lower?
Do I have to keep some upper foliage so the tree don't die, or are the branchlets lower down good enough?

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JBP - To chop or not? 6 years 1 month ago #37341

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If you cut it lower next year or the year after, depends on the volume of foliage. the new buds have more chance to take over the roots and keep the right side alive. otherwise you end up with a small live vein on the leftside and right will be dead. and gone is the nebari.

if you keep branches in the top for a coupel of years, the tree will become thicker faster.

Give it some good fertilizer and full sun, you wil be surprised
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JBP - To chop or not? 6 years 1 month ago #37636

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Orlando;

Thanks for your suggestions.
Wires were cut down today, and the first chop will be where you have marked in blue.
Then I'll let it grow for a couple of seasons to see if we gain some trunk thickness and those small branches down catch.

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JBP - To chop or not? 6 years 1 month ago #37819

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So I have chopped it.
Not as much as I had wished, but leaving as suggested some foliage and branches on top,
Plan is wait for the smallish low down branches get stronger and thickening the trunk by leaving the sacrifice branch on top.
In a couple of years, chop chop again, this time way down to the new branches.
As the cut was big and in an angle, I didn't trust only the pine stick sap to heal it, so I covered it in Japanese cut paste for pines.
Let's see how it behaves...

After the cut, still with some wires (will be cut soon)


Concave cutter, cleaned the borders, large cut!

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