is this a reasonable step by step black pine tutorial?

[Paradox]

Thanks Paradox, any thoughts on the tree that suffered from dry needles? Is it a goner?

I am guessing that is the tree in the background?
Hard to say, it might be.

Id keep it in the shade and mist it every day. If it doesnt turn completely brown and all the needles dont fall off you might be ok. When is your spring? If it buds out at that time, you might have a better chance.

 

[barrosinc]

I have two new buds in red circles and those popped up months after the needles scorching.

 

[Adair M]

That's what trees look like when they're kept too wet! The get root rot.

Stop using guano. I think it's too rich.

 

[barrosinc]

That's what trees look like when they're kept too wet! The get root rot.

Stop using guano. I think it's too rich.

Will do. Thanks.

 

[my nellie]

... ...Stop using guano. I think it's too rich.

May I ask what exactly is your objection? Is your concern the risk of burning young roots? Could you please specify because I use guano, too.
Thank you.

 

[Adair M]

It looked like his tree had wet feet.

Does his tree look healthy to you?

 

[barrosinc]

It got burnt and dry not under my supervision... it seems to work though, but it would seem it could accumulate in the substrate.

 

[my nellie]

It looked like his tree had wet feet.
Does his tree look healthy to you?

Thank you for your response.
Sorry for the silly questions, but I consider myself a novice yet.
So, your point is that an ailing tree like this which is having root problems should not be fed. Not any objection against guano in particular but against using any kind of fertilizer. Am I correct?
Your clarification will be greatly appreciated.

 

[barrosinc]

so this is a pine I love...
of course I am not expecting to achieve something like that. BUT I would love something even close look something similar maybe! LOL

IMG

so would like to do initial bending aiming that way.

I was wondering... On a tree like that, how many different sacrifice branches would have to been used?
Maybe 3 times (as attachment)

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Probably just one, right about halfway through your line #2.

 

[barrosinc]

So, the taper difference at line 1 is just natural occuring? Or there had to be at least a branch thickening the trunk at that point??

 

[Adair M]

Max, there were probably branches there at one point. Were they "sacrifices"? Hard to say. This may have been grown as landscape material. If so, it probably resembled a bush. And it may have had insignificant little half dead branches there that had been shaded out by the upper branches. Which the tree will let die. So it can spend its energy on the upper branches.

Usually during its development, a pine will have several sacrifice branches. Sometimes more than one at a time. Sometimes only one.

It depends on what style you're going for.

 

[Eric Schrader]

Max - It appears that this tree had a sacrifice that was attached to the first branch on the right. Note how the base of the branch is nearly as large as the trunk but it then tapers rapidly to a smaller size? The same may be true for the first branch on the left. From a textbook perspective these branches are both too large compared to the trunk.

 

[Adair M]

Max, in addition to the branch issues that Eric pointed out, there are other structural issues with is tree.

1). The first branch is a back branch. While it's not a "fault", is is preferred to have the back branch between the number 1 and number 2 branch.

2) the bar branch up near line number 3.

3) The needles are long for the size of the tree.

4) there are a lot of places where I see "chicken foot" branch structure. That is, three branches coming from one node. There should only be two.

5). The trunk is exposed all the way from nebari to apex. Yes, we do want to see the trunk. But there should be some frontal branches hiding a bit of the trunk here and there. Kinda like women are sexier when they're not entirely naked. The little bit covered up adds to the mystery.

6). The tree needs wiring. The branches appear to be crowding each other, and fighting for the same space.

7) the tree is inconsistent. There is movement in the trunk. But the branches are relatively straight. Yes, the slant down, but after that bend, they go straight out. Since the trunk is curved, so I believe the branches ought to be curved as well.

8) and in my opinion, the left bottom branch is too long. The trunk appears relatively thin. The heavy bases of the branch, like Eric pointed out, make the trunk look thinner that it probably is. So, the "rule" is: thin trunk, short branches, with foliage close to the trunk. A fat trunked tree can have longer, spreading branches.

Now, don't get me wrong, it IS a nice tree. Great bark. Good nebari. It appears to be nice and healthy.

If you going to use this tree as a model, just be aware of the issues it has, and avoid duplicating them in your tree!

 

[barrosinc]

Ok, so pine 1 is very much alive... can´t say the same of pine 2...
So pine 1 is extended a couple of weeks ago, I though it was summer buds setting for next year, but its starting to open up. I had decandled some branches to get some ramification going and to not let the internode get too long on branches I need.

Should I do anything like cut them off? Cut half of them off? Or just let them grow?

 

[barrosinc]

Ok, so pine 1 is very much alive... can´t say the same of pine 2...
So pine 1 is extended a couple of weeks ago, I though it was summer buds setting for next year, but its starting to open up. I had decandled some branches to get some ramification going and to not let the internode get too long on branches I need.

Should I do anything like cut them off? Cut half of them off? Or just let them grow?

Keep in consideration that Autumn is right around the corner for us.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Just leave it alone.