Sylvestris (Scots) too early to cut back to new buds?

Mike Corazzi

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After leaving it repotted in lava and out in the sun all summer, it's showing new tiny buds.

Should I cut back to them now or wait for new spring growth?
Trying to get backbudding.

Thanks.

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For the buds that you are showing, I would wait until after they've hardened, not just popped, next year.

You could cut back now if you've got other buds that have a few rows of needles between them (the buds) and the next node/whorl.

Of course, you could experiment with a branch or two (individual branches are largely autonomous) and see what happens. In fact, I suggest that you do this and let us all know the result if you've got a couple of branches that you can afford to put at risk.
 
The green is the power of your tree. I do not have a full image off the tree. Use the strong growing tip to draw sap trough the branch, so you can make the buds stronger. Having enough energy the other buds will start to grow. When one of those buds has extended and hardened off next year, you cut back to it so this becomes the new "apical" shoot. The year after that you will have more backbuds on a stronger tree, making the cutback options bigger. Cutting back to early will leave you with a weak tree and you will have to build strength for a few years before you will see backbudding. Watch the pine lectures from Ryan Neil... Have fun...
 
Wait till next year. It is getting too late in the season to be playing the "let's have some back budding" game. You might encourage some buds to start growing that really wont do well, and might just die over the winter.
 
The green is the power of your tree...

What an absolutely TERRIFIC way to explain it. I ..knew.. that, but never put it in so few true words.
Gives a whole new instinctive way of considering the whole process.

:)
 
My English is not good enough to explain it in a more difficult way. We always want to cut back to induce backbudding, we often forget that with the buds alone the tree is nothing.
 
What is important about cutting back to induce back budding is timing. This has to be done at the right time or the results may or may not be optimal.
 
Hey, Vance..... "may or may NOT be...." optimal?
That covers all the possibilities, huh? :D
 
Scots Pines are funny; peculiar not Ha Ha. A real healthy Scots can do almost any thing any time. I have had them bud out on bare isolated wood.
 
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