I never understand why people come to a forum. As a question. Do not even wait 2 days for multiple answers. And then do something else than recommended.

I would have considered keeping the top-left branch, and the branch opposit too. Make that the new main trunk, and remove the main trunk. The right hand branch seems to have a nice number of side-branches to work with.

leatherback wrote:

I would have considered keeping the top-left branch, and the branch opposit too.

Exactly, that was also my suggestion.

appleaNbananas wrote:

I am giving it some time to recover and then I have a few more cuts to make on apex to open it up a bit more..

To me, this does not make sense. Do the work you want to do. Certainly opening up for sunlight. Remove the branches that are not needed, reduce all branch intersections to duplicates and thin the amount of needles. Make sure you pick the right time of year for your climatic zone to trim back, else you risk not getting buds.

appleaNbananas wrote:

Maybe a new front?

No. Very boring.

Second picture is going to be my main trunk line...the two lower branches needed to go. As they had great branches directly across from them. I just turned the back to the front. I'm happy. I made the additional cut because I didn't see getting a branch from the upper cut down into that area without promoting downward growth in my back buds which I didn't want to do. I have all my branch nodes on with nice upwards growth. I didn't want to hope a branch would form perfectly for that when I had many options w the health of the branches I know I'm keeping. It was the decision on the lower two I couldn't decide and I got great advice from everyone and I thank you all. Any input is always welcome but to expect me to follow all advice, verbatim, would take away the fun for me. It's my creativity that should be in this tree when it's 50 years old not others

That's that for awhile.... No more until at least next spring.

How about any feedback on a mid summer update?

Not bad, not bad at all. This one does have potential.

Struggling with figuring out how to handle the Apex of the tree.

From any of your experience do you have techniques for the Apex of the JWP. I pulled the main trunk down to redirect the top of the tree. I see if as a nice feature that in the long run will pull your eye from on side of the tree to the other.

Do I keep it about the same size? Continuing development or do you have any input or guidance about development of a apex? My approach was going to be to let it grow and adjust

I'm all self taught with little guidance but from my reading, so hearing from someone that's experienced helps a lot. Thanks again.

MOVED TO NEW THREAD