Ponderosa

Yandrosxx

I will be repotting this Ponderosa Pine tomorrow into a larger pot. I need to commit to a front. My present intention is to remove the jin and grow a new apex by extending the branch immediately behind the apex upward and letting it branch out. The branch is hard to see from the front picture, but is clearly visible in the back picture below. It is fairly strong and well developed already. It just needs to be brought upward toward the jin.

My problem with the present front is the nebari is far less attractive then the current back and the left trunk's bow like appearance is very noticeable from this perspective. If I go this route, I'll end up cutting off the left trunk entirely (big decision for me) and jin it. While the foto doesn't show it well. there is quite a bit of subtle movement in the main trunk and actually at the bow between the two trunks.

If I go with the present back as a new front, it presently leans sharply away from the viewer. So I'll need to pot it at a pronounced angle to lean it sharply forward. I am open to carving it to add movement and separation in the bow as well.

As an aside, a smaller section of the tree was removed years ago and ring counted at the Univeristy of Kentucky's Agriculture Department. The area is marked "knob" in the photos below. Over two hundred rings were counted in just this section. So, the tree is pretty old. Definitely over 200 years old.

It is 25 inches high at the point of the jin and 45 inches wide from outer branch tip to outer branch tip.

I'd really appreciate any thoughts as I am truly not committed to either idea. It's in good health, but could use some extra room to grow and fresh soil. The present soil is broken down and somewhat slow to drain. It's time.

Attached Images

	Ponderosa-Front.jpg (70.0 KB, 72 views)
	Nebari-Front.jpg (67.6 KB, 47 views)

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Yandrosxx

The first picture shows the middle branch that lies between the two trunks. I'd like it to be a bit healthier, but it is in pretty good shape and buds out well enough. It extends around the back of the main trunk and falls away to the right eventually becoming the slender deadwood that is shown in the front picture above. I intend to keep the deadwood as is. If I remove the left trunk, I intend to develop this branch to become much more prominent on the left side of the main trunk to counterbalance the lean of the main trunk to the right.

The second picture is what is presently the back. I often prefer this view. The nebari and subtle trunk movement is more visible. The nebari would still need a lot of work.

Attached Images

	Pondrosa-Middle-Branch.jpg (65.4 KB, 23 views)
	Ponderosa-Back.jpg (69.8 KB, 57 views)
	Nebari-Back.jpg (68.4 KB, 35 views)

NJF

I would defo go with 57336 as the front. I find it much more interesting to look at with the nebari. I also think the branches work better this way. Your present front reminds me of horns on a bulls head, sorry if that sounds a bit harsh. I don't think it matters that it would be leaning back.

Nice tree though, and nearly as old as the good old US of A.

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Vonsgardens

Hi,
I don't think repotting will fix your dilema completely. You are going to need to make a decision about the "horns", one will stay and the other will go. Also, as Miss Vick said about this tree in a previous thread, your lower interior branches look weak, this may require that you wire and move them t a point where they get direct sun.

Nice tree, will make a find bonsai, but some work is needed to get it right.

John
(I am about halfway through repotting ponderosas this year..... John)

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Yandrosxx

The lower middle limb between the two trunks is actually pretty healthy, which is good because it saves any design. The outer most lower limb on the lesser trunk is very weak. I suspect I'll lose it. I left it alone last year in the hopes it may bud better this year. In any event, I think that the lesser trunk just needs to go no matter what front I chose, so I really don't think loss of the weaker limb is going to matter much.

Just need some encouragement to lop it off. And a consensus opinion on the "best" front because I've been on the fence. I've always liked the back better, but the middle limb crosses the main trunk and I keep wondering if breaking that convention really matters overall.

The tree was put in full sun last year. The lower limbs had already died back in the areas that were shaded by the canopy. The areas that are presently alive are the areas that get sun.

Hawthorn

57336, that's the front to me..

Yandrosxx

How about these?

Attached Images

	Ponderosa-Back-Virt.jpg (54.2 KB, 28 views)
	Ponderosa-Front-Virt.jpg (67.3 KB, 22 views)

Hawthorn

57347, for sure! Though I would go for forming the foilage as in 57348, don't like the pom-pom look of the first virt..

waltr

This is also my choice.
Great tree.