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Refining young pines

November 26, 2013 by Jonas Dupuich

A number of my young black pines are now 10 – almost 11 – years old. Depending on what they look like, I’m making cuts, repotting or letting them grow.

The pine below has a number of exposed roots. As the main trunk growing up and to the right will not be part of the final design, I reduced it to encourage the branch growing on the left. I’m not sure yet whether I’ll use this as the new trunk line or as a primary branch – I’ll make this decision in the next year or two when I see what new growth appears.

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10 year-old black pine

After reducing the apex

Another pine from this cohort was slated for a new potting angle.

10 year-old pine

Future planting angle

The goal of tilting the tree to the side is to replace the straight part of the trunk with a branch that leads in a new direction.

After removing the tree from the basket

Planted at the new angle

If you look closely you can see the future trunk line, now a thin branch leading upward above the base of the trunk. In another year or two I’ll reduce the long escape branch after the new trunk thickens a bit.

Close-up of the new planting angle

Beyond the new trunk and primary branch on the right, I don’t have much in mind for tree. As with the pine above, I’ll delay making further decisions for the time being and see what new branches emerge over the next year or two.

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Filed Under: Bonsai Development Tagged With: Black Pine

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