I have received mixed signals about when is it appropriate to prune this particular tree, let me explain. The tree is newly transplanted to my location and I have been told that I should not prune it at all for at least 1 year. I have also been told that in transplanting, there is root loss and this will cause needles to dry out if I do not prune. In fact, I was told that I have a large margin, somewhere between 10% and 90% with 10% being too little and 90% being too much. Any opinion about the appropriateness of pruning now? I really think if I let it go it will be totally out of control.
It's generally believed that leaving plenty of growth up top will help grow new roots and this is certainly true to certain extent.
I field grow JBP so have transplanted quite a few over many years and discovered:
They can cope with quite severe root reduction without too much set back.
Shortening all branches to 'balance' root loss is a mistake. Loss of all growing tips seems to make it so much harder for the tree to develop new roots.
Usually the tree will 'balance' itself if necessary. Usually shedding excess needles , esp older needles, if there's not enough water or nutrients coming through from the roots. It is not often that a tree will decide to die rather than work through the issue and rebalance itself.
If you are worried about 'balance' remove entire branches you deem redundant rather than shortening many branch tips.
Worrying about the tree dying if you don't prune and also worrying about it getting out of control seems a bit contradictory.
Growth will be slower in the year after transplant so less of a worry just now.
You have until early summer to make decisions. Pruning JBP early just promotes more strong growth so better to defer pruning. Let it go until (your) late summer to see how it copes with the transplant. Be guided by the tree and its growth this spring/ summer.
Your worry about root loss may be misplaced and it grows fine in which case pruning could be done this year.
Your worry about root loss may be appropriate in which case it won't grow much and you should defer pruning until next year. Getting away won't be such a big a problem but a dead tree would be much more severe problem.
I have taken a photo of a 'leggy branch. As you can see it is budding back on the branch. I was thinking that if I take out a lot of the growth on the leading tip of the branch it would shorten the branch add promote growth of the budding further in, eventually giving me a fuller pad.
First, I would not describe the shoots I can see here as back buds. They are all at nodes so are just weaker shoots. back buds are the new buds that emerge from older needles or from bare sections of branch or trunk, usually after the growing tips have been pruned.
Regardless of the terminology, you can always prune back to existing side shoots to reduce vigour and length on pine branches. Right after transplant is not the time I'd do that though. Wait until the tree recovers strength.
