JBP field grown help?

[AboveBeyond]

I've planted this JBP about 3 years ago and it's grown very well. It's probably 5 feet tall (planted as 6-8 inches). I've been pruning the candles to 2 to prevent whorls. I think right now it's tall enough that I'll let the leader to grown untouched (the "V" being the leaders).

A few questions:

1) Should I have pruned to 2 candles?
2) There's a lower branch that's very long, what should I do with that?
3) What else should I be doing or shouldn't be doing?

Thanks!

 

[JoeR]

Theres no low branching, you need to somehow get it to backbud. I know nothing about pines so I couldnt tell you how though.

Normally when a black pine is put out to grow, the trees shape/silhoutte and low branches are preserved and only one branch just gets to elongate.

 

[barrosinc]

Do you have a branch at the bottom?? I see something green, but can't identify.
How tall will the tree be and how thick? Anything above that is just thickening the trunk, and you don't need to decandle above that nor cut to 1 branch at a whorl.

 

[AboveBeyond]

There's a couple very small branches at the bottom.

I'm hoping for a 16 inch tall tree with 2-3 inch trunk.

 

[barrosinc]

could you draw were 16 inch is on the tree?

 

[Eric Group]

Check out Phutu.com
He just did a post on the blog about reducing sacrifice branches on JBP progressively.. Might be the way to go with this one.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Here is what I would do.
1. Keep the low bud exposed to as much sunlight as possible. That is the future bonsai.
2. Remove the branches above the future bonsai (more light for the low bud).
3. In the fall, remove all old needles, keeps the low bud stronger.

 

[Smoke]

 

[AboveBeyond]

Here is what I would do.
1. Keep the low bud exposed to as much sunlight as possible. That is the future bonsai.
2. Remove the branches above the future bonsai (more light for the low bud).
3. In the fall, remove all old needles, keeps the low bud stronger.

Thanks Brian!