Black Pine ?

discusmike

Hi,im starting to grow my first black pine (one gallon size)my question is,after the first few branches,there is a huge distance till the next set of branches,would it be best to cut the tree down lower and wait for the tree to grow back?hopefully with new branches,or does that only work with deciduous trees?If not whats the best way to get branches to grow in a situation like this?Sorry if this is a really dumb ? but im lost when it comes to pines,the tree has stayed very healthy and i dont want to do anything foolish.

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Graydon

Good question, no need to apologize or any of that stuff.

Here's a little bit about developing JBP. You can cut the top off and one of the lower branches will take over as a new leader. Keep in mind pines are like marathon runners and they are awake all year long (or just about) producing food with evergreen needles but broad leaf trees have a quick and frantic rush to grow, put on leaves and make food before the leaves fall and they go dormant.

But don't cut the leader just yet. All of that (perhaps) unwanted top growth is needed to fatten the trunk on a pine, it's called a sacrificial leader. Over time the best thing is to try to get another branch to want to become the leader and then slowly remove the top growth in stages as not to shock the tree too much. One chop may not kill the tree but it will set it back a season. Eventually one of the lowest branches would make a great sacrificial branch to fatten the trunk and the leader can go.

A photo would be good as low branches to you may not mean the same to me. In the mean while feed it well and water it well, let it grow unchecked (no bud pruning or branch removal).

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discusmike

Thanks for your help,nodes internodes,candles,buds,and all the other pine lingo started to confuse me a little,thanks for clearing things up.