Japanese White Pine (5 needle)

ANT

I have just purchased a field grown Japanese White Pine (5 needle) and needed some advise about pruning/pinching. Do I need to pinch shoots from the bottom and work up or from the top and work down or does it not matter? How much of the candle should I remove to promote more branches?
When should pruning be done (in England)

Thanks in advance

Ant

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TreeBay

Hi there, ANT.

Japanese White Pines are pinched a bit differently than black pine. You will use your fingernail to nip the candle to about 1/2 its length after it extends. You just crush right through the candle, but this needs to be done before the needles start to show. About the time the cones become a bit bumpy is a good time. That's March for me. Like other pines, the Japanese White Pine will tend to grow most at the apex, and also the terminals of the branches, so you will want to pinch these areas down a bit more - to maybe 1/3 of the length

Inner branches and lower branches might not be pinched at all, as they tend to be weak.

Now, having said that, if this tree was imported less than 3 years, don't do anything at all. Just let it grow. A pine will push out plenty of candles on its reserve energy, but it needs to develop a strong root system to properly recover, and the developing candles are essential to promoting good root growth.

I wish I had $100 bill for every white pine I have seen that has died the second season after being imported (and bare rooted, as they must be to enter the US) Maybe it's different where you live.

Keep the soil a bit on the acid side by fertilizing with Miracid, and/or using an organic fertilizer.

White pines are my favorite trees.

Regards,

Matt

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ANT

Thanks for the advice.

Ant

ripsgreentree

Ant: An exelent bit of advice is for you to live with your new tree for a year or so. Learn to keep it healthy and strong and then you can start to work it. Many people will purchase a tree and work it to death befor they know how to keep it at all. White pines can be a little fussey until you know what kind of care they like. Find someone who is already keeping white pine and learn what they do and how they keep there trees. Best of growing and enjoy your new tree.
ripsgreentree

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Tim Ford

Hello, ant
I,m very new to bonsai and bonsaitalk, i also have a wight pine and funnily enaugh live in england, i have purchased my field grown tree very recently,it,s about 18 inches tall and i have very little idea on how to train it , i would be gratefull if you or any one else could give me ideas! pictures would be great but i can not post any my self

TreeBay

Sorry, Tim:

It would be impossible to give you ideas on how to train your tree without pictures. Unless you're good with a pencil.

Regards,

Matt

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